Gerald Joseph Carlson

West Point, 1951

Be Thou At Peace

Posted by J. A. "Andy" Chacon on November 25, 2011:

Gerald Joseph Carlson Born November 30, 1928 -- Died November 21, 2011 Gerald Joseph Carlson was born in Ishpeming, Michigan on 30 November 1928 and was appointed to West Point from the 12th Congressional District. His West Point classmates recall: "It was a far cry from his native Upper Peninsula haunts to the cold grey walls of West Point, but this jovial Svenska took it and liked it. His rolling sailor's gait attests to his duty with the Merchant Marine, while his academic record indicates that his chief interests are skiing, reading novels, and dragging. Always a fast man with a joke or a song, the Tonsil will be sincerely missed." During his cadet days Jerry was with the Catholic Choir plebe, yearling, and cow year; with the Ski Club plebe and yearling years; on the Howitzer staff cow and first class years; and was a Cadet Sergeant his first class year. Upon graduation Jerry went in the infantry and after completing the Basic Infantry Course at Fort Benning, Georgia served as a tactical officer in the officer candidate regiment before reporting to the 17th Infantry Regiment, 7th Division in Korea where he served from 1952 to 1953 as a platoon leader and company commander and was decorated with the Silver Star for distinguished gallantry in action; the Bronze Star Medal (valor) for heroism against an enemy; two Purple Hearts for wounds in action against an enemy; and the Combat Infantryman Badge. On return to stateside he was assigned to the 11th Airborne Division where he served from 1953 to 1958 as a staff officer and company commander at Fort Campbell and Augsburg, Germany. Next Jerry was assigned to the 1st Airborne Battle Group, 187th Infantry Regiment from 1958 to 1959 in Lebanon and Fort Bragg and then went on to the Staff & Faculty of The Infantry School, Fort Benning, Georgia and served from 1960 to 1962 and was awarded the Commendation Medal for his service. In 1962 Jerry attended the Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas and upon completion received orders to Joint Military Assistance Group in Thailand where he served from 1963 to 1966 and was awarded a second Commendation Medal for his service. Next Jerry drew the Office, Deputy Chief of Staff assignment for Operations, Department of the Army where he served from 1966 to 1969 and was awarded the Legion of Merit for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services. Then from 1969 to 1970 Jerry was First Brigade Executive Officer and later Battalion Commander of the 6th Battalion, 31st Infantry, 9th Infantry Division, Republic of Vietnam and was decorated with his second and third Silver Stars for distinguished gallantry in action; a second Legion of Merit for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services; the Distinguished Flying Cross for heroism and extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight; a second and third Bronze Star Medals (for valor) for heroism against an enemy; five regular Bronze Star Medals for meritorious service against an enemy; 17 Air Medals (one for valor) for meritorious achievement while participating in aerial flight; two additional Commendation Medals (one for valor) for service; and the Combat Infantryman Badge. In 1971 Jerry attended the Industrial College of the Armed Forces and on completion was assigned to Office, Joint Chiefs of Staff where he served from 1971 to 1974 and was awarded a third Legion of Merit for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services. Next he went to Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri where he served as Commanding Officer of the 2nd Basic Combat Training Brigade from 1974 to 1976. Jerry's last military assignment was to Staff and Faculty at the Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas where he served until 1981 when he retired after a distinguished 30 year career in the United States Army as a Colonel. Upon retirement he was appointed Executive Officer of the El Paso Apartment Association where he continues to serve. Jerry made his home in El Paso, Texas. Jerry lost his wife, Jeanne to cancer in 1993. His middle daughter, Susan is a Lieutenant Colonel, USA, eldest daughter, Anna and grandson live in the Denver area and son, Gerald, Jr. and four grandchildren in St. Louis. On November, 22, 20111 General Sandy Meloy '53 sent the following to Sel Graham about your Father and grandfather, worthy of this moment. "Dear Susan, Anna, Jerry, Neil, grandchildren and family, Sel, I knew him so well. We served in the 11th Abn Division together - same regiment. Served in Lebanon in 1958 together. Attended the Inf Officer Advanced Course together 1969-60. Attended CGSC together 1062-63. He was assigned to Leavenworth when he retired. His boss was another USMA 1951 guy named Bill Richardson, who in my opinion was the best boss I ever had (I worked for Bill twice, once at Benning when he was the Assistant Commandant and I was Chief of Battalion and Brigade Tactics, and also at the Pentagon when he was the Army DCSOPS and I was the Dirtector of Training). On the date Jerry retired Bill was unavoidably on an official trip. After conferring with Jerry, Bill called me and asked if I could come to Leavenworth to officially retire Jerry. Apparently Jerry had asked Bill to ask me as he wanted an "old airborne buddy" to officially retire him. I agreed immediately, flew to Leavenworth and was part of his offical retirement. Not a dry eye in the house as he was such a soldier he was widely respected and admired by everyone at Leavenworth, and for that matter everyone with whom he ever served. During the many years after I retired and Hatsie and I drove to Caifornia from Austin to visit her mother, we always stopped in El Paso and had dinner with Jerry. Our most recent stop was this past March when we drove to Phoenix to have a reunion with my three cousins. He was still the "same old Jerry"; enthusiastic, funny, full of spark and spunk, bright eyed and bushy tailed, as we used to say, not any mention or hint of failing health. God bless him. They don't make many Jerry Carlsons these days. One of a kind in many ways." Sandy

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