Carl E. Carlson, Jr., 106th Infantry Div., d/o/d 12/7/1944

[starstruklynna]

I'm looking for information on my Uncle, Carl E. Carlson, Jr., 106th Infantry Division, Battle of the Bulge (nickname "Sonny"). He died on December 7, 1944. My father (an only child, raised with his cousin, Sonny, who was also an only child) thinks he was taken prisoner before he died. It took many years for Sonny's parents to get his body back. Dad served in the Infantry, as well, 103rd Division, and walked from the south of France to Austria in 1944.

Looking forward to hearing from anyone who can contribute.

Lynna

[connie]

It is so good that you are searching for your uncle's story. I know that those losses are never really in the past for the family involved. How hard for your father to learn of this loss while he was out there, too, fighting for his country...

I have added your uncle's name to two lists in the Site Soldier Index on this discussion board-- one for the whole division and one for those soldiers whose units within the 106th have not been identified. These both have a link to your post.

Do you have any idea what unit your uncle was in within the 106th infantry division? If there were any saved letters home, the return address should tell you this.

December 7 was a time of transition for the division. Beginning the end of November and the first week of December they had been moving from England to France, where they assembled and waited for their orders to a position on the front.

The unit your uncle was in would have determined when he arrived in England. Some advanced parties arrived on October 12. Most of the infantry troops landed in Scotland on October 21 and 28th. The Field Artillery, band, and special forces landed in Liverpool on November 17. All were stationed in various locations over a 200 square mile section of the English Midlands.

When they left England and crossed the English Channel some landed around Le Havre France. Others on LSTs continued up the Seine river to land near Rouen. Those who arrived earliest in France ended up camping in muddy fields around Yerville (sp?) and Limesy, France-- northwest of Rouen. Some later arrivals hit the road on a long forced march the day the division started to move or shortly thereafter.

General Jones, division commander, received the orders for their positions on the front on December 6 and I believe that most of the division began the move on the 8th. I don't know if there may have been an advance party out there moving on the 7th or not.

Somewhere, someone may have written down something about the events surrounding your uncle's death. Let's hope that someone with information finds their way to this post. I am now aware of your search and will keep my eyes open, too...

Connie

[Jim West - Indiana Military Or]

I have added your Uncle to the 106th Roster, at tinyurl.com/106thRoster

Can you add any more information, such as burial locations both overseas and in the US ? Have you tried to get his info from the government ? Every little piece can help.

Jim West
www.IndianaMilitary.org

[Carl W.]

Dear Lynna,

A search of the electronic records of the National Archives has given me two possible records. A match can be made if you are aware of his hometown or his army serial number.

The records I found were:
Pfc. Carl E. Carlson, Jr (Serial Number 16190857)
from Oakland County, MI
Status: DNB (This indicates a non-battle casualty)

Pvt. Carl E. Carlson, Jr (Serial Number 39719162)
from Los Angeles, CA
Status: DOW (This indicates that he died from wounds received in battle)

As indicated by Connie, the date of your uncle's death does not yet place him in the combat zone. I therefor assume that your uncle was a non-battle casualty, perhaps killed in a road accident or due to another cause. There were several cases of NBC when the division moved into position in early December 1944. There is a well known case of an artillery officer who died in an automobile accident while trying to direct traffic on the icy roads.

I hope this helps.

Greetings
Carl