Evans Carlson

Evans Fordyce Carlson
BGen Evans Carlson
Born(1896-02-26)February 26, 1896
Sidney, New York, U.S.
DiedMay 27, 1947(1947-05-27) (aged 51)
Portland, Oregon, U.S.
Place of burial
AllegianceUnited States of America
Service / branch United States Army
 United States Marine Corps
Years of service1912–1921 (USA)
1922–1939, 1941–1946 (USMC)
Rank Brigadier general
Commands2nd Raider Battalion
Battles / warsPancho Villa Expedition
World War I
United States occupation of Nicaragua
Second Sino-Japanese War (observer)
World War II
AwardsNavy Cross (3)
Legion of Merit
Purple Heart Medal (2)
Combat Action Ribbon
Croce al Merito di Guerra (Italy)
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Evans Fordyce Carlson (February 26, 1896 – May 27, 1947) was a decorated and retired United States Marine Corps general officer who was the leader of "Carlson's Raiders" during World War II. Many credit Carlson with developing the tactics and attitude that would later come to define America's special operations forces. He is renowned for the "Makin Island raid" in 1942, and his raiders' "Long Patrol" (aka Carlson's patrol) behind Japanese lines on Guadalcanal, in which 488 Japanese were killed. Carlson popularized the phrase "gung-ho".[1]