Duane Carlson

Personal Information

Birthplace: Irving, KS

Service Information

Branch of Service: Army Air Corps

Unit: 398th Bomb Group - 73rd Wing

Theater of Operation: Pacific

Enlisted / Commissioned: Jun 14, 1943

Discharged: Dec 24, 1945

Highest Rank: Pfc.

Military Honors: Asiatic/Pacific Campaign Medal, Army Good Conduct, National Defense Service Medal, American Campaign Medal, WW II Victory Medal

Honored By: His children: Sally and Randy

Biography

Alfred Duane Carlson “Duane” was born in Irving, Kansas, and lived with his family on a farm. He attended Irving Schools and graduated from high school with the class of 1942.

He was drafted into the Army, at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, on June 14, 1943. Carlson was trained on several bases throughout the United States. He was stationed on Saipan and served with the 498th Bomb Group. Their objective was to bomb Japan. Carlson’s job was to load bombs onto B-29s and clean and reload the guns on the plane. His plane was the Joltin’ Josie until it crashed. He then worked with the B-29 named Lucky 11.

Carlson returned home and used the G.I. Bill to go to college and earned a business degree. He was called back to serve for a year during the Korean conflict and then settled to have a family in Valley Center, Kansas. He married and had two children.