Carlson, Harold Edwin 1913 - 1943/44

CARLSON, DONNAWAY, PALMER, SIEGELE, MCMILLIN

Posted By: Reid R. Johnson (email)
Date: 1/28/2024 at 17:02:51

Clayton County Register, 14 Dec. 1944.

Harold E. Carlson of McGregor, chief yeoman in the United States Navy, who was reported missing in action a year ago, was officially declared dead by the Navy department last week. He was on board the U.S.S. Liscome Bay when it was torpedoed and sunk by the japs, Nov. 24, 1943 in the Gilbert Islands campaign.

His parents, Mr. and Mrs. Carl Carlson, McGregor farmers, have known their son to be dead for many months, despite the lack of official word. Several of his shipmates, as well as the Chaplain, have written Mr. and Mrs. Carlson and told them that Harold, after being thrown into the water when the Liscome Bay exploded, was picked up wounded by a rescue ship and died of his injuries aboard the vessel.

The Chaplain wrote in part: "The burial service was very simple. I read the 14th chapter of St. John, gave a brief prayer and then his body was committed to the sea in the presence of the survivors who were able to be on their feet."

Harold Edwin Carlson was born at McGregor, Nov. 30, 1913, and graduated from the McGregor high school in May, 1932. He joined the navy March 17, 1935. He spent two and one-half years at Pearl Harbor and Panama and four years at Pensacola, Fla. Nov. 28, 1942, he was married to Miss Clara Donnaway of Pensacola. He went to the South Pacific in October, 1943 as chief yeoman on the U.S.S. Liscome Bay.

He is survived by his wife and baby son, Harold Jr., whom he never saw, of Pensacola, Fla.; his parents; three sisters, Mrs. Glen Palmer of Greeley; Mrs. Alfred Siegele and Mrs. Harold McMillin of McGregor and five brothers, Oscar Carlson of Farmersburg; Emil, George and Walter Carlson of McGregor; and Carl Carlson Jr. who has been overseas with the 34th Division of the U.S. Army nearly three years.

Memorial services will be held soon.