John A. "Johnny" Carson

This January 13, 1944, Lowell Tribune article was found on page 2, column 2:

Pvt. John A. Carson, who is still stationed at Indianapolis, spent last Sunday with his mother and fiancee, Miss Cleone Stanley, John, who enlisted in the army air corps two weeks ago, likes it ths far and is getting along fine.

This January 27, 1944, Lowell Tribune article was found on page 2, column 1:

Pvt. John Carson is now stationed at Fort Sill, Okla., where he is taking his basic training in the field artillery. John, who enlisted in the air corps, failed in the stiff physical test for this branch of service, and chose field artillery. He is getting along fine in the service.

This February 3, 1944, Lowell Tribune article was found on page 2, column 2:

John Carson, son of Mrs. Marion Carson, is now stationed at Ft. Sill, Okla., where he is starting a 17-week course for Observation Specialists, and on completion of the preliminary study, will take advanced training elsewhere. One difficulty encountered by the boys there, said John, is the lack of something to do for relaxation--there aren't even any girls, only a half dozen or so 40-year-old women, The weather is very disagreeable by spells at this time of year, but he added there's one thing I do enjoy very much--reading the Tribune--so keep it coming.

This February 17, 1944, Lowell Tribune article was found on page 2, column 1:

Pvt. John A. Carsons, stationed at Fort Sill, Okla., telephoned his mother at the home of her aunt, Mrs. A. Nomanson, Saturday night and enjoyed a seven-minute talk with her. John is well and getting along fine in the army, and enjoys reading his Tribune, which he receives every Sunday.

The following March 23, 1944, Lowell Tribune article was found on page 2, column 2:

Andy Hufnagel

The following June 1, 1944, Lowell Tribune article was found on page 2, column 1:

Finishes Basic Training

The following August 24, 1944, Lowell Tribune article was found on page 4, column 1:

Johnny Carson, son of Mrs. Marion Carson, writes that he was promoted to the rank of Corporal on Aug. 14th. Johnny says everything is going along all right, but the hot weather and chiggers take the joy out of army life.

This October 26, 1944, Lowell Tribune article was found on page 4, column 1:

Home On Furlough

Another article on page 5, column 2 of the same issue of the paper added the following:

Mrs. Marion Carsten, of Crown Point is here this week while her son, Pvt. John Carson is home on furlough.

Note the different spelling of Mrs. Carson's last name in the second article.

The following November 2, 1944, Lowell Tribune article was found on Page 1, column 6:

Mrs. Marion Carson, employed at the tuberculosis sanitorium, north of Crown Point, returned to her duties Thursday morning after spending a two weeks vacation at the home of her aunt, Mrs. A. Nomanson, and family. While here she got a chance to visit with her son, Cpl. John Carson, who was home on furlough. They visited many relatives and friends in Chicago on Friday, spending an enjoyable day.

Another article on page 4, column 2 of the same issue follows:

Returns to Camp

This February 15, 1945, Lowell Tribune article was found on page 2, column 1:

Mrs. Marion Carson informs us that her son, Cpl. John Carson has arrived safely overseas with his outfit.

This March 15, 1945, Lowell Tribune article was found on page 2, column 1:

Cpl. John A. Carson, who is now stationed in France, writes his mother, Mrs. Marion Carson, that he is getting along fine and is in the best of health, and that weather conditions over there are much the same as here--lots of rain and mud. When you want to buy anything, said John, you have to go through a lot of motions. In letters and a cablegram to his Mom, he said the one thing he missed most since his arrival in France was his Lowell Tribune, which hasn't caught up with him as yet. Johnny closed with a greeting to all his friends in Lowell.

In a letter to The Tribune last week, Johnny said he thought the French were O.K. but wasn't sure whether or not the feeling was mutual, because he couldn't understand a word they said when they tried to talk to him.

This April 19, 1945, Lowell Tribune article was found on page 2, column 1:

Cpl. John A. Carson, who has been stationed in France, has been transferred to Germany, according to word received by his mother, Mrs. Marion Carson, this week. He said he could give her some information about France because he had visited quite a few towns which were well worth the time he spent sight-seeing. John received his first Lowell Tribune since arriving overseas, and although it was dated Feb. 22, thoroughly enjoyed reading all about the folks back home. At the time he wrote, April 2nd, John was well and sent his best regards to all his Lowell friends.

This May 10, 1945, Lowell Tribune article was found on page 2, column 1:

Cpl. John Carson, with an aerial observation unit in Germany, writes that what he has seen of that country thus far is a mess--nearly everything blown up or shot full of holes. His outfit at present is quartered in a nice home, from which they ejected a family of hostile Germans, and living in style--new furniture, electricity, radio and all. But, Johnny wrote, in spite of the seeming comfort, it gets mighty warm here on the front lines, and the heat isn't caused by the weather either. The big shells land too close for comfort. A few days before writing the letter, Johnny received a few copies of The Tribune, which he said really hit the spot.

This May 31, 1945, Lowell Tribune article was found on page 4, column 1:

Writing from Germany, Cpl. John Carson, with a field artillery observation battalion, said he took part in the battle across Germany with his outfit, and now that the fighting had ceased was getting to visit some of the Nazis' infamous slaughter houses. Johnny wrote:

"I've seen some of the dead boys that were in German concentration camps, and they were a mess. I've seen people of all nationalities that have been tortured and killed by these ______ Germans, and it is a sight you could never believe unless you saw it with your own eyes.

"I expect to get a good look at some of the horror camps soon. A few of the fellows from our outfit have already seen them, and said the dead were really piled up. Some of the tortured victims were still living but aren't expected to last much longer--they're nothing but skin and bones. German civilians are being forced to view the results of the Nazi torture chambers and none of them will admit they knew what was going on."

This July 12, 1945, Lowell Tribune article was found on page 2, column 3:

Cpl. John A. Carson, who returned home from overseas, arriving in New York on the 4th, was released from Camp Atterbury, Ind., on the 7th. He will return to Camp Atterbury on August 8th, after a 32 day furlough. Another article from the same issue of the paper was found on page 5, column 5:

Mrs. Marion Carson was pleased to be able to talk to her son, Cpl. John Carson, on the 4th, when he phoned from New York to the home of Mrs. Chester Crisler. Mrs. Carson spent the week-end at Indianapolis where John is staying with his aunt, Mrs. Fred Mathey, while he was visiting with friends and relatives.

This November 29, 1945, Lowell Tribune article was found on page 2, column 1:

Cpl. J.A. Carson, who was promoted to Sgt. Nov. 1st, was chosen from the 294th Observation Bn. with four other boys for U.S. army recruiting service. He had received his school[ing] at Albuquerque, N.M., in September and has been permanently stationed in El Paso, Texas, since Oct., from where he travels to the various towns around the city.

Johnny who said he still enjoyed reading the Tribune, wishes to say hello to all his Lowell friends. Another article in the same column adds:

Mrs. Marian Carson was very pleasantly surprised Nov 15 on her birthday to receive a bouquet of mixed flowers wired to her by her son, Sgt. J.A. Carson, from El Paso, Texas.

These Lowell Tribune articles were found in the February 7, 1946, issue (page 5, column 4):

Sgt. J.A. Carson, Miss Rose Marie Coffman of Merrillville, and his mother, spent the week end of the 19th in Chicago, where they attended the Barn Dance. John returned to camp on the 29th after a month's furlough.

* * * * *

Mrs. Marion Carson has had a very pleasant visit with her son, Sgt. John A. Carson, for the past month. While he was here they found time to visit all their relatives in Chicago. All of John's cousins have been released from the army recently and they enjoyed the visit. Some he had not seen for several years.

This February 21, 1946, Lowell Tribune article was found on page 2, column 2:

Sgt. John A. Carson has been put in command of the U.S. army recruiting office at Marfa, Texas.

This April 18, 1946, Lowell Tribune article was found on page 9, column 3:

Army Recruiting Office Opened in Crown Point

Sergeant John A. Carson returned to his home town April 15th to organize the essential drive for volunteers in the new regular army in the Crown Point area. The recruiting office in the Court House will be open for information and explanation Wednesday through Saturday from 12 to 5 p.m.

The sergeant invites every man 17 to 34 who is interested in a good job with a fine future to come over to the Court House and discuss regular army opportunities and advantages any Wednesday, Thursday, Friday or Saturday from 12 to 5 p.m.

If it is inconvenient to drop by the Court House just write Sgt. Carson in care of the Court House for the latest information.

Veterans will be interested in the new War Department regulation authorizing enlistment up to the grade held at discharge for all men released from the army since May 12, 1945.

Sgt. Carson enlisted in the army Dec. 13, 1943, after he had graduated from Lowell high school, where he is remembered as a varsity guard with the '42-'43 football team. After Infantry training at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, the sergeant was assigned as Forward Artillery Observer with the 294th Observation Battalion of the 18th Airborne Corps and sent to France to participate in the Rhineland offensive and to help blunt Von Runstat''s Ardennes breakthrough. He is living with his mother, Mrs. Marion Carson, at 513 North Main Street, Crown Point. Mrs. Carson is surgical aide at Parramore hospital.

This July 18, 1946, Lowell Tribune article was found on page 1, column 3:

Mr. and Mrs. Hilding Holmquist of Crown Point announce the engagement of their daughter, Katherine to Sgt. John Carson, son of Mrs. Marion Carson, also of Crown Point. Mrs. Carson and John are both former residents of Lowell. No date has been set for the wedding, as yet.

Last updated on August 6, 2004.

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John A. “Johnny” Carson