COOL DUDES I ADMIRE: d.a. carson

d.a. carson hailed from texarkana, tx. a veteran of the 1st marine parachute regiment, he later joined the 5th marine division at camp pendleton. with the 5th marine division, carson served with company d, second battalion, 28th marines. on march 1, 1945, his assault squad had suffered multiple casualties as they took on heavy machine-gun fire from a japanese pillbox. carson, a private first class, crawled roughly thirty yards through heavy fire to a position closer to the side of the pillbox.

the japanese observed him and attempted to prevent him from reaching their position with a barrage of explosives. carson charged the pillbox and, grasping the enemy machine gun by the barrel, liftd it from the embrasure, enabling his squad to advance, and ultimately neutralize any viable threat.

carson’s initiative and extreme courage under hazardous conditions earned him the navy cross for his actions.