Lt. Col. Harold Eugene Carson Jr.

Col. Carson was preceded in death by his wife of 65 years, Sandra Humphrey Carson, formerly of Pittsfield, Maine. He is also survived by a sister, Patricia Carson Crowe and her husband, Guss of Pasadena, CA., and several cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents, Harold and Ernestine Carson of Hartland, Maine, a daughter, Deborah Susanne Carson, formerly of Fairfax Station, Virginia.

Col. Carson was born in Monson, ME., October 10, 1933, the son of Harold E. Carson, Sr. and Ernestine Averill Carson. He grew up in Hartland, ME., and graduated from Hartland Academy in 1951. He went on to graduate from Boston University with a BS degree, Syracuse University with an MBA degree, and the Industrial College of the Armed Forces.

Upon graduating from Boston University, he was commissioned a second Lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force, and completed pilot training in Hondo and Laredo , TX. He flew as pilot or instructor pilot in 11 types of aircraft during his career including the T-33, T-39, C-47, C-131, O-2B, KC-97, KC-135 and several versions of the EB-66. During the Vietnam War he flew 117 combat missions over Laos and North Vietnam in EB-66 electronic warfare aircraft. He completed his flying career with a command pilot training. Col. Carson's staff assignments included tours at Pacific Air Force HQ in Hawaii, with Air Staff at the Pentagon, Washington, D.C. and with the Joint Chiefs of Staff in Alexandria, VA. He retired at Macdill AFB, Tampa, Florida in 1985.

His awards and decorations include the Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star Medal, Defense Meritorious Service Medals, Air Force Meritorious Service Medal, and six Air Medals. He was a life member of The Military Officers Association of America, a member of the Air Force Association, the Vietnam Veterans of America Association, the Distinguished Flying Cross Society, the Maine Aviation Historical Society and the Emerald Greens Golf and Country Club.

Following his retirement from the Air Force, Col. Carson was employed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and the Resolution Trust Corporation in Tampa, Florida where he served as Administrative Officer and Director of Administration. He was an active volunteer with Hands On Tampa Bay, Metropolitan Ministries and Habitat for Humanity.

There will be no local services. Internments will be in Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia.