Michael Carlson wrote the credo published here May of 2000 when he was a high school senior. At his parent’s request, he did a year of college and made the deans list. Then he enlisted the day after school was over and left for boot camp within the week. He kept a journal while in boot camp at Ft Benning where he was when the 911 attacks occurred. The journal entry for that day, which was also the date of final inspection for his unit, is excerpted here as well.
Michael was promoted to Sergeant while in Iraq with the 1st ID 2-2 out of Vilseck Germany. Michael’s platoon was attached to the 82nd Engineers. His platoon was based at FOB Gabe, in Baquba Iraq, where they were charged with constructing the JCC center in addition to their other missions. Like so many soldiers, Michael was not one to write extensively and rarely about himself. He was one of five soldiers who were killed in a Bradley accident on January 24, 2005 when his unit was riding in support of a combat patrol in the days leading up to the historic first elections for Iraq.
The Michael Carlson Credo
Michael Carlson wrote the credo published here May of 2000 when he was a high school senior. At his parent’s request, he did a year of college and made the deans list. Then he enlisted the day after school was over and left for boot camp within the week. He kept a journal while in boot camp at Ft Benning where he was when the 911 attacks occurred. The journal entry for that day, which was also the date of final inspection for his unit, is excerpted here as well.
I was born in Wisconsin. We lived in a town called Webster, on a road called Lavern Lane. Since then Many things have changed, but many more remain the same. We no longer live in the country, we only go to church once or twice a year, and we no longer struggle to make ends meet. Today we live in they city, but we still have a Junk Yard, my dad still works sixteen hours a day, everyday. Today I am a man not a seven year old child. There are still cars every where. We own over 90. About twenty of them still run and twelve of those we store in the city. No we don’t have a parking lot. What we do is borrow our neighbors unused stalls for fixing there cars and doing other little things for them.
I admire my Father more than any other person on this planet, not for being a mechanic, not for being a tough guy. I admire my father for his ambition. For thirty years he has gone to work everyday, for thirty years he has come home, gone to the garage and worked ten more hours. I don’t know how he does it but I do know why. He does it for us. HE wants my brother and I to have everything we need and most of what we want. Lots of people say that they best way to learn is by the example of others. Well, then I have one of the best teachers on how to be a man, how to treat others, and work ethic there is. I mean he is not perfect by any means but is anyone really perfect! I think that he is pretty close.
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