Army captain continues career more than 20 years after retirement

Courtesy Photo | Army Capt. Samuel Carlson (left) and Army Maj. Ryan O'Connor, Combined Joint Task Force-101, pose at Bagram Air Field in 2005, during Carlson's first tour to Afghanistan.  

FORWARD OPERATING BASE SHANK, AFGHANISTAN

06.15.2009

Story by Sgt. Amber Robinson 

Combined Joint Task Force - 82 PAO

FORWARD OPERATING BASE SHANK, Afghanistan — The average Army career, if a Soldier chooses to make a life of the service, is little more than 20 years. For one jovial 62-year old Army captain, 20 years hardly seemed like enough.

Capt. Samuel Carlson, an intelligence officer with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, Task Force Spartan, is currently on his second voluntary tour to Afghanistan. For a Soldier to volunteer to come to a combat zone twice is noteworthy enough, but to voluntarily deploy after being retired for more than 20 years is even more significant.

Carlson came into the Army on May 9, 1967. He served in various conflicts until he officially retired on Oct. 1, 1987. He joined as an infantryman, but made a transition to intelligence operations within two years after joining.

"I was an infantryman that could type," said Carlson. "I was sent to work for the personnel sergeant major of my unit, but made the mistake of pronouncing his name wrong when I went to report for my new job."

The sergeant major, apparently very sensitive about the pronunciation of his name, sent Carlson away to work for the intelligence officer, where he began to foster an interest in intelligence. From his small mistake, he began a long career in the intelligence field.

In 1991, Carlson volunteered to return and serve in Operation Desert Storm. Although his mission to Kuwait was cancelled due to the short duration of the fight, he chose to stay on active status.

Carlson served with the Texas National Guard from 1992 to 1995, working as the executive officer of the 502nd Military Police Battalion out of Ft. Worth, Texas. He commanded the unit after it reorganized until his second retirement. He volunteered to come into the service again after the attacks of 9/11.

"That pissed me off," Carlson said. "I took that personally. I had family that worked in the World Trade Center, so that made it personal."

Carlson is now on his second tour to Afghanistan. He served with the 308th Military Intelligence Battalion, 902nd Military Intelligence Group on his first tour from 2005 to 2006, returning to the states for a short period before serving with TF Spartan, 10th Mountain Division in Logar province, Afghanistan, this time around.

Carlson's love of the service is based on simple principles, but it keeps him going.

"I missed Soldiers," Carlson said. "In the civilian world it's hard to find the same camaraderie, teamwork and sense of brotherhood that you find in the Army."

Carlson's conventional military career spanned the globe, serving in El Salvador, Honduras, Germany, Korea and even a short stint in Vietnam.

Carlson's call to duty was passed down through a long legacy of Soldiers, starting with his grandfather, a Norwegian immigrant who joined the American military in World War I. Too old to attain the position he desired, he lied and said he was younger, allowing him to receive his desired position.

"Grandad was not of military age when he came to America from Fredrikstad, Norway," Carlson said. "So to join he indicated that he had been born in 1891, as opposed to his real birth date of 1889. He registered for the draft in 1917 and served in the Air Service, Signal Corps. He went to France for WWI in 1918 and was still on the front lines when the Armistice was signed on November 11."

Carlson's father joined the Army in 1937, received his commission in 1942 and fought in Normandy in 1944 during the invasion of France.

"Dad was on the northern edge of the bulge during the Battle of the Bulge," Carlson said. "He was also involved in the crossing of the Rhine and Ruhr rivers, as well as the encirclement of the Ruhr industrial region."

Carlson's father left the Army as a first lieutenant in 1946, but, much like his son, missed the service and re-entered as a non-commissioned officer a few months after his initial departure. He was recommissioned shortly thereafter and took off to serve in the Korean War. He retired in 1963. Still harbouring the desire to serve, his father is now a volunteer Deputy Sheriff in his community.

Not only have Carlson's ancestors served faithfully, but his son and now his grandson have answered the call of their country.

"My son will soon come to Afghanistan to be the first sergeant for the Laghman Provincial Reconstruction Team," said Carlson. "He is finishing up training at Camp Atterbury."

Carlson's son will be in Afghanistan at the end of June, to serve in the same war at the same time as his father. Carlson is proud to be a part of the struggle in Afghanistan, as he hopes his son will be as well.

"I can understand this war," said Carlson. "It makes sense to me. It's well thought out as opposed [to] the other conflicts I have been a part of."

Carlson hopes that given his proximity to his son that he will be able to see him while both are in Afghanistan.

"It may be a little difficult, but I'd like to make it happen if I can," he said.

To cap the long line of Carlsons serving in the military, his grandson, Sgt. David Carlson, is currently stationed in Korea.

The Carlson tapestry of military service is tightly woven. Throughout the ages, the men of Carlson's family have served in the Armed forces.

"My Norwegian grandfather came overseas and joined the American Army, but my Swedish grandfather and forefathers also served in the Swedish military, which is mandatory there," said Carlson. "It was never anything planned, but for as long as we can trace back, the men of our family have served."

He has been referred to the in past as the "OCITA," or, "Oldest Captain in the Army." Carlson smiles warmly at the jokes.

"I may be old but the Soldiers I work with help me to feel much younger than my age," Carlson said.

Carlson is currently planning to retire for the third and final time. He hopes to settle down and take some time to catch up with his family and engage in some of his favorite pastimes, like playing music in his rock and roll band.

"It's been a long career, but I'd do it all again," said Carlson.

Carlson will redeploy back to the states with TF Spartan, 10th Mtn. Div., at the end of the year.

• Date Taken: 06.15.2009
• Date Posted: 06.15.2009 07:29
• Story ID: 35063
• Location: FORWARD OPERATING BASE SHANK, AF