Carlsen also has a memorial marker at the Ord Cemetery in Ord, Nebraska.
~
Paul was the first Valley County, Nebraska military person killed in World WarII. Paul served as a Gunner's Mate First Class on the U.S.S. Smith (DD-378), U.S. Navy during World War II. He was "Killed in Action" when a Japanese torpedo plane crashed into the Smith's forecastle, causing a heavy explosion, killing several sailors, including Paul. The Smith survived the attack and the war.
On October 26, 1942, the USS Smith was providing cover for the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise just north of the Pacific islands of Santa Cruz. The battle group Task Force 16, of which these ships were a part, was embroiled in the larger campaign of Guadalcanal, attempting to push back Japanese advances in that region. As a Gunner's Mate, 1st Class (GM1), Paul would have likely been assigned to one of the large anti-aircraft turrets on the forward end of the Smith. Those guns, along with many more from other supporting vessels, had spent the early part of that day fighting off waves of Japanese fighters (called "Zeros"), and dive bombers in their efforts to protect the Enterprise. Late in the morning, US fighter planes shot down three of four Japanese torpedo bombers.
The fourth bomber, badly damaged, was able to make a last-ditch turn, slamming directly into the forecastle of the Smith. Carrying a 2,000 lb. torpedo, the plane's explosion penetrated the Smith's magazines, causing severe damage to the entire ship and covering the forward deckhouse in flame. 57 crewmen, including Paul, were killed. Paul was awarded the Purple Heart and was buried at sea.
Despite extensive damage and the heavy losses, the destroyer put out her fires and continued to defend her task force. The USS Smith, a 1480-ton Mahan class destroyer, was built at the Mare Island Navy Yard, California. She was commissioned in September 1936 and served with the U.S. Fleet for the rest of the decade and into the 1940s. Following the outbreak of the Pacific War in December 1941, she operated in the west coast and Hawaiian areas, mainly on escort duty. The USS Smith was sold for scrap on August 20, 1947. More on the USS Smith can be found at http://www.navsource.org/archives/05/378.htm.
Though Paul was buried at sea, his family placed a memorial tombstone on a grave space next to his father's grave in the Ord Cemetery, Ord, Nebraska. Next to his grave space, in the same plot, is a cenotaph for Paul's brother Art, who also served during World War Two, but survived. Art died years later, and his body was donated to science, so his body was not interred. The grave of Carl A. Carlsen and the cenotaphs for Paul and Art are in Division F, Lot 29 in the Ord City Cemetery.
Another cenotaph for Paul is in the Manila (Philippines) American Cemetery.
The following is the article about Paul's death that was published in the Ord Quiz, Ord, Nebraska, Thursday, November 19, 1942, page 1, column 1:
"Killed in action in the Battle of the Coral Sea.
Paul Carlsen, 23, Ord's 1st Casualty; Killed in Pacific
Sister, Mrs. Cook, Gets Word of Boy's Death "In Line of Duty" Sunday
"Paul Thomas Carlsen, 23, a son of Mrs. Pearl Carlsen who is now visiting children in California, was killed "in line of duty" in the Pacific area recently, according to a telegram received Sunday by his sister, Mrs. Angie Cook. The message was addressed to Mrs. Carlsen but was delivered to Mrs. Cook in her absence.
"Signed by the commanding officer of an American warship, the message said simply: "Your son, Paul Thomas Carlsen, was killed in the line of duty."
"It was also requested that the family not disclose the name of the ship on which young Carlsen was stationed or where he was when he last wrote home. The message said that it was impossible to send the body home for burial.
"Mrs. Cook is the oldest sister of Paul, and she had a nice letter from him on October 9. He was "somewhere in the Pacific," and it is assumed that his death occurred in the Solomon Islands area, where there has been much naval activity lately.
"Paul had been in the United States Navy five years. He was graduated from Ord high school in 1936 and joined the Navy the following December. He is the first Ord boy to lose his life in action during the present war, on the basis of reports so far received. The exact date of his death was not given in the telegram received by Mrs. Cook."
Paul's brother Art said that Paul was pretty wild in his high school years, having been with quite a number of Ord area girls, and did lots of drinking. Art said that one of the high school girls he dated was Ord's Evelyn Sharp, who became Nebraska-famous as an early-day woman military pilot. She, too, was killed during World War Two. (She was about 10 months younger than Paul.) Nebraska's main statewide newspaper, the Omaha World-Herald in late 1999 named Evelyn Sharp one of the 100 most significant Nebraskans of the 20th century.
~
Paul was the first Valley County, Nebraska military person killed in World WarII. Paul served as a Gunner's Mate First Class on the U.S.S. Smith (DD-378), U.S. Navy during World War II. He was "Killed in Action" when a Japanese torpedo plane crashed into the Smith's forecastle, causing a heavy explosion, killing several sailors, including Paul. The Smith survived the attack and the war.
On October 26, 1942, the USS Smith was providing cover for the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise just north of the Pacific islands of Santa Cruz. The battle group Task Force 16, of which these ships were a part, was embroiled in the larger campaign of Guadalcanal, attempting to push back Japanese advances in that region. As a Gunner's Mate, 1st Class (GM1), Paul would have likely been assigned to one of the large anti-aircraft turrets on the forward end of the Smith. Those guns, along with many more from other supporting vessels, had spent the early part of that day fighting off waves of Japanese fighters (called "Zeros"), and dive bombers in their efforts to protect the Enterprise. Late in the morning, US fighter planes shot down three of four Japanese torpedo bombers.
The fourth bomber, badly damaged, was able to make a last-ditch turn, slamming directly into the forecastle of the Smith. Carrying a 2,000 lb. torpedo, the plane's explosion penetrated the Smith's magazines, causing severe damage to the entire ship and covering the forward deckhouse in flame. 57 crewmen, including Paul, were killed. Paul was awarded the Purple Heart and was buried at sea.
Despite extensive damage and the heavy losses, the destroyer put out her fires and continued to defend her task force. The USS Smith, a 1480-ton Mahan class destroyer, was built at the Mare Island Navy Yard, California. She was commissioned in September 1936 and served with the U.S. Fleet for the rest of the decade and into the 1940s. Following the outbreak of the Pacific War in December 1941, she operated in the west coast and Hawaiian areas, mainly on escort duty. The USS Smith was sold for scrap on August 20, 1947. More on the USS Smith can be found at http://www.navsource.org/archives/05/378.htm.
Though Paul was buried at sea, his family placed a memorial tombstone on a grave space next to his father's grave in the Ord Cemetery, Ord, Nebraska. Next to his grave space, in the same plot, is a cenotaph for Paul's brother Art, who also served during World War Two, but survived. Art died years later, and his body was donated to science, so his body was not interred. The grave of Carl A. Carlsen and the cenotaphs for Paul and Art are in Division F, Lot 29 in the Ord City Cemetery.
Another cenotaph for Paul is in the Manila (Philippines) American Cemetery.
The following is the article about Paul's death that was published in the Ord Quiz, Ord, Nebraska, Thursday, November 19, 1942, page 1, column 1:
"Killed in action in the Battle of the Coral Sea.
Paul Carlsen, 23, Ord's 1st Casualty; Killed in Pacific
Sister, Mrs. Cook, Gets Word of Boy's Death "In Line of Duty" Sunday
"Paul Thomas Carlsen, 23, a son of Mrs. Pearl Carlsen who is now visiting children in California, was killed "in line of duty" in the Pacific area recently, according to a telegram received Sunday by his sister, Mrs. Angie Cook. The message was addressed to Mrs. Carlsen but was delivered to Mrs. Cook in her absence.
"Signed by the commanding officer of an American warship, the message said simply: "Your son, Paul Thomas Carlsen, was killed in the line of duty."
"It was also requested that the family not disclose the name of the ship on which young Carlsen was stationed or where he was when he last wrote home. The message said that it was impossible to send the body home for burial.
"Mrs. Cook is the oldest sister of Paul, and she had a nice letter from him on October 9. He was "somewhere in the Pacific," and it is assumed that his death occurred in the Solomon Islands area, where there has been much naval activity lately.
"Paul had been in the United States Navy five years. He was graduated from Ord high school in 1936 and joined the Navy the following December. He is the first Ord boy to lose his life in action during the present war, on the basis of reports so far received. The exact date of his death was not given in the telegram received by Mrs. Cook."
Paul's brother Art said that Paul was pretty wild in his high school years, having been with quite a number of Ord area girls, and did lots of drinking. Art said that one of the high school girls he dated was Ord's Evelyn Sharp, who became Nebraska-famous as an early-day woman military pilot. She, too, was killed during World War Two. (She was about 10 months younger than Paul.) Nebraska's main statewide newspaper, the Omaha World-Herald in late 1999 named Evelyn Sharp one of the 100 most significant Nebraskans of the 20th century.
Carlsen also has a memorial marker at the Ord Cemetery in Ord, Nebraska.
~
Paul was the first Valley County, Nebraska military person killed in World WarII. Paul served as a Gunner's Mate First Class on the U.S.S. Smith (DD-378), U.S. Navy during World War II. He was "Killed in Action" when a Japanese torpedo plane crashed into the Smith's forecastle, causing a heavy explosion, killing several sailors, including Paul. The Smith survived the attack and the war.
On October 26, 1942, the USS Smith was providing cover for the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise just north of the Pacific islands of Santa Cruz. The battle group Task Force 16, of which these ships were a part, was embroiled in the larger campaign of Guadalcanal, attempting to push back Japanese advances in that region. As a Gunner's Mate, 1st Class (GM1), Paul would have likely been assigned to one of the large anti-aircraft turrets on the forward end of the Smith. Those guns, along with many more from other supporting vessels, had spent the early part of that day fighting off waves of Japanese fighters (called "Zeros"), and dive bombers in their efforts to protect the Enterprise. Late in the morning, US fighter planes shot down three of four Japanese torpedo bombers.
The fourth bomber, badly damaged, was able to make a last-ditch turn, slamming directly into the forecastle of the Smith. Carrying a 2,000 lb. torpedo, the plane's explosion penetrated the Smith's magazines, causing severe damage to the entire ship and covering the forward deckhouse in flame. 57 crewmen, including Paul, were killed. Paul was awarded the Purple Heart and was buried at sea.
Despite extensive damage and the heavy losses, the destroyer put out her fires and continued to defend her task force. The USS Smith, a 1480-ton Mahan class destroyer, was built at the Mare Island Navy Yard, California. She was commissioned in September 1936 and served with the U.S. Fleet for the rest of the decade and into the 1940s. Following the outbreak of the Pacific War in December 1941, she operated in the west coast and Hawaiian areas, mainly on escort duty. The USS Smith was sold for scrap on August 20, 1947. More on the USS Smith can be found at http://www.navsource.org/archives/05/378.htm.
Though Paul was buried at sea, his family placed a memorial tombstone on a grave space next to his father's grave in the Ord Cemetery, Ord, Nebraska. Next to his grave space, in the same plot, is a cenotaph for Paul's brother Art, who also served during World War Two, but survived. Art died years later, and his body was donated to science, so his body was not interred. The grave of Carl A. Carlsen and the cenotaphs for Paul and Art are in Division F, Lot 29 in the Ord City Cemetery.
Another cenotaph for Paul is in the Manila (Philippines) American Cemetery.
The following is the article about Paul's death that was published in the Ord Quiz, Ord, Nebraska, Thursday, November 19, 1942, page 1, column 1:
"Killed in action in the Battle of the Coral Sea.
Paul Carlsen, 23, Ord's 1st Casualty; Killed in Pacific
Sister, Mrs. Cook, Gets Word of Boy's Death "In Line of Duty" Sunday
"Paul Thomas Carlsen, 23, a son of Mrs. Pearl Carlsen who is now visiting children in California, was killed "in line of duty" in the Pacific area recently, according to a telegram received Sunday by his sister, Mrs. Angie Cook. The message was addressed to Mrs. Carlsen but was delivered to Mrs. Cook in her absence.
"Signed by the commanding officer of an American warship, the message said simply: "Your son, Paul Thomas Carlsen, was killed in the line of duty."
"It was also requested that the family not disclose the name of the ship on which young Carlsen was stationed or where he was when he last wrote home. The message said that it was impossible to send the body home for burial.
"Mrs. Cook is the oldest sister of Paul, and she had a nice letter from him on October 9. He was "somewhere in the Pacific," and it is assumed that his death occurred in the Solomon Islands area, where there has been much naval activity lately.
"Paul had been in the United States Navy five years. He was graduated from Ord high school in 1936 and joined the Navy the following December. He is the first Ord boy to lose his life in action during the present war, on the basis of reports so far received. The exact date of his death was not given in the telegram received by Mrs. Cook."
Paul's brother Art said that Paul was pretty wild in his high school years, having been with quite a number of Ord area girls, and did lots of drinking. Art said that one of the high school girls he dated was Ord's Evelyn Sharp, who became Nebraska-famous as an early-day woman military pilot. She, too, was killed during World War Two. (She was about 10 months younger than Paul.) Nebraska's main statewide newspaper, the Omaha World-Herald in late 1999 named Evelyn Sharp one of the 100 most significant Nebraskans of the 20th century.
~
Paul was the first Valley County, Nebraska military person killed in World WarII. Paul served as a Gunner's Mate First Class on the U.S.S. Smith (DD-378), U.S. Navy during World War II. He was "Killed in Action" when a Japanese torpedo plane crashed into the Smith's forecastle, causing a heavy explosion, killing several sailors, including Paul. The Smith survived the attack and the war.
On October 26, 1942, the USS Smith was providing cover for the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise just north of the Pacific islands of Santa Cruz. The battle group Task Force 16, of which these ships were a part, was embroiled in the larger campaign of Guadalcanal, attempting to push back Japanese advances in that region. As a Gunner's Mate, 1st Class (GM1), Paul would have likely been assigned to one of the large anti-aircraft turrets on the forward end of the Smith. Those guns, along with many more from other supporting vessels, had spent the early part of that day fighting off waves of Japanese fighters (called "Zeros"), and dive bombers in their efforts to protect the Enterprise. Late in the morning, US fighter planes shot down three of four Japanese torpedo bombers.
The fourth bomber, badly damaged, was able to make a last-ditch turn, slamming directly into the forecastle of the Smith. Carrying a 2,000 lb. torpedo, the plane's explosion penetrated the Smith's magazines, causing severe damage to the entire ship and covering the forward deckhouse in flame. 57 crewmen, including Paul, were killed. Paul was awarded the Purple Heart and was buried at sea.
Despite extensive damage and the heavy losses, the destroyer put out her fires and continued to defend her task force. The USS Smith, a 1480-ton Mahan class destroyer, was built at the Mare Island Navy Yard, California. She was commissioned in September 1936 and served with the U.S. Fleet for the rest of the decade and into the 1940s. Following the outbreak of the Pacific War in December 1941, she operated in the west coast and Hawaiian areas, mainly on escort duty. The USS Smith was sold for scrap on August 20, 1947. More on the USS Smith can be found at http://www.navsource.org/archives/05/378.htm.
Though Paul was buried at sea, his family placed a memorial tombstone on a grave space next to his father's grave in the Ord Cemetery, Ord, Nebraska. Next to his grave space, in the same plot, is a cenotaph for Paul's brother Art, who also served during World War Two, but survived. Art died years later, and his body was donated to science, so his body was not interred. The grave of Carl A. Carlsen and the cenotaphs for Paul and Art are in Division F, Lot 29 in the Ord City Cemetery.
Another cenotaph for Paul is in the Manila (Philippines) American Cemetery.
The following is the article about Paul's death that was published in the Ord Quiz, Ord, Nebraska, Thursday, November 19, 1942, page 1, column 1:
"Killed in action in the Battle of the Coral Sea.
Paul Carlsen, 23, Ord's 1st Casualty; Killed in Pacific
Sister, Mrs. Cook, Gets Word of Boy's Death "In Line of Duty" Sunday
"Paul Thomas Carlsen, 23, a son of Mrs. Pearl Carlsen who is now visiting children in California, was killed "in line of duty" in the Pacific area recently, according to a telegram received Sunday by his sister, Mrs. Angie Cook. The message was addressed to Mrs. Carlsen but was delivered to Mrs. Cook in her absence.
"Signed by the commanding officer of an American warship, the message said simply: "Your son, Paul Thomas Carlsen, was killed in the line of duty."
"It was also requested that the family not disclose the name of the ship on which young Carlsen was stationed or where he was when he last wrote home. The message said that it was impossible to send the body home for burial.
"Mrs. Cook is the oldest sister of Paul, and she had a nice letter from him on October 9. He was "somewhere in the Pacific," and it is assumed that his death occurred in the Solomon Islands area, where there has been much naval activity lately.
"Paul had been in the United States Navy five years. He was graduated from Ord high school in 1936 and joined the Navy the following December. He is the first Ord boy to lose his life in action during the present war, on the basis of reports so far received. The exact date of his death was not given in the telegram received by Mrs. Cook."
Paul's brother Art said that Paul was pretty wild in his high school years, having been with quite a number of Ord area girls, and did lots of drinking. Art said that one of the high school girls he dated was Ord's Evelyn Sharp, who became Nebraska-famous as an early-day woman military pilot. She, too, was killed during World War Two. (She was about 10 months younger than Paul.) Nebraska's main statewide newspaper, the Omaha World-Herald in late 1999 named Evelyn Sharp one of the 100 most significant Nebraskans of the 20th century.
Bio by: Nebord
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GM1C, US NAVY WORLD WAR II
