Donald LeRoy Carlson (1946 - 1968)

Born 13 Oct 1946 in Brooklyn Center, Hennepin, Minnesota, United States

Ancestors

Died 1 Aug 1968 at age 21 in Thừa Thiên-Huế, Vietnam

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Biography

Private First Class Donald Carlson served in the United States Army in the Vietnam War
Service started: 25 Feb 1968
Unit(s): D Co., 5 Btn, 7th Cavalry, 1st Cav. Div.
Service ended: 1 Aug 1968

Private First Class Donald Carlson was killed in action during the Vietnam War.

He volunteered for service In February of 1968 and, after training, was sent to Vietnam where he was assigned to D Company, 5th Battalion, 7th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division stationed in I Corps in northern South Vietnam.

In April of 1968, he was awarded the Army Commendation Medal for Heroism for action in the Au Shau valley. His unit was engaged in a search and destroy mission when they were attacked by a large enemy force, Donald assaulted and attempted to destroy an enemy bunker but was forced to take cover when he came under intensive enemy fire.

He also earned the coveted Combat Infantryman Badge and the Purple Heart.

He was killed in action on 1 Aug 1968 while on patrol in Thua-Thien-Hue Province in South Vietnam.

Sources

• My mother's ancestry records.
• Virtual Vietnam Wall, https://virtualwall.org/dc/CarlsonDL02a.htm
• "United States Casualties of Army Personnel, Dependents and Civilian Employees, 1961-1981," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KXC8-ZTB : 12 December 2014), Donald L Carlson, 01 Aug 1968; citing Death, , NARA NAID 641697, National Archives at College Park, Maryland.
• "United States Casualties of the Vietnam War, 1956-1998," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KXZ4-BWK : 12 December 2014), Donald Le Roy Carlson, NARA NAID 306742, National Archives at College Park, Maryland.
• "United States Military Personnel who Died During the Vietnam War, 1956-2003", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KXXY-4G8 : 22 January 2021), Donald Le Roy Carlson, .
• Find a Grave, database and images (www.findagrave.com/memorial/150060024/donald-leroy-carlson : accessed 07 May 2021), memorial page for Donald LeRoy Carlson (13 Oct 1946–1 Aug 1968), Find A Grave: Memorial #150060024, citing Glen Haven Memorial Gardens, Crystal, Hennepin County, Minnesota, USA ; Maintained by Coleah (contributor 46578837) .