DAVID L. CARLSON, LCDR, USN

David Carlson '76

Date of birth: May 21, 1954

Date of death: January 21, 1985

Age: 30

Lucky Bag

From the 1976 Lucky Bag:

DAVID LEO CARLSON

Falmouth, Massachusetts

The swinging, southpaw pitcher from Falmouth, Mass. doggedly ducked and dodged demos and Chem profs for four years at USNA. Yet, for all his professed nonconformity, Spike (You know why?) had a healthy respect for regs (not much more). Speaking of details, Dave will be ever remembered for his record setting pace during the Plebe Detail. (Most Plebes per Hour on a Sunday afternoon, unaided). Chug-a-lug was always a man to have at your party, and was never known to turn down an invitation. At parties, Dave seemed to let loose all those anxieties from Chemistry and the frustrations of baseball. Sometimes these frustrations and a few golfclubs could usually clear a fairway. If anything four years have shown is that New Englanders don't lose their accent, and that this place can't keep a great man down.

DAVID LEO CARLSON

Falmouth, Massachusetts

The swinging, southpaw pitcher from Falmouth, Mass. doggedly ducked and dodged demos and Chem profs for four years at USNA. Yet, for all his professed nonconformity, Spike (You know why?) had a healthy respect for regs (not much more). Speaking of details, Dave will be ever remembered for his record setting pace during the Plebe Detail. (Most Plebes per Hour on a Sunday afternoon, unaided). Chug-a-lug was always a man to have at your party, and was never known to turn down an invitation. At parties, Dave seemed to let loose all those anxieties from Chemistry and the frustrations of baseball. Sometimes these frustrations and a few golfclubs could usually clear a fairway. If anything four years have shown is that New Englanders don't lose their accent, and that this place can't keep a great man down.

Loss

David was lost when his SH-2F Seasprite crashed into the sea alongside USS Reid (FFG 30) on January 21, 1985, 325 mi southwest of San Diego, California.

Other Information

From researcher Kathy Franz:

David graduated in 1972 from Lawrence High School. He was on the baseball team and was in the senior class Play “Ah, Wilderness!” performing a solo.

This first-person memorial is that he was a "CDR". He is listed in the WORLDWIDE U.S. ACTIVE DUTY MILITARY DEATHS, OCTOBER 1, 1979 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30, 1994 list as a LT. Memorial Hall lists him as a LCDR; given his time in the service this seems like the most likely rank at his death.

He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.