Evans Fordyce Carlson | |
|---|---|
 BGen Evans Carlson | |
| Born | February 26, 1896 Sidney, New York, U.S. |
| Died | May 27, 1947 (aged 51) Portland, Oregon, U.S. |
| Place of burial | |
| Allegiance | United States of America |
| Service/ |  United States Army United States Marine Corps |
| Years of service | 1912–1921 (USA) 1922–1939, 1941–1946 (USMC) |
| Rank |  Brigadier general |
| Commands | 2nd Raider Battalion |
| Battles/wars | Pancho Villa Expedition World War I United States occupation of Nicaragua Second Sino-Japanese War (observer) World War II |
| Awards | Navy Cross (3) Legion of Merit Purple Heart Medal (2) Combat Action Ribbon Croce al Merito di Guerra (Italy) |
Preview warning: Page using Template:Infobox military person with unknown parameter "units"
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]