Smokejumper Obituary: Wilson, Carl J. "Joe" (Missoula 1952)

Authors

National Smokejumper Association

Files

Obituary

Joe, 82, died June 13, 2007, in Osburn, Idaho. He graduated in 1943 from Lourdes Academy in Wallace, Idaho, and enlisted in the Army. He served as a combat medic in the 187th Para-Glider Regiment of the 11th Airborne Division in New Guinea, Leyte and Luzon in the Philippine Islands. He was awarded the Bronze Star for bravery in rescuing a wounded rifleman on Leyte and the Purple Heart Medal for wounds received in the battle. The 11th Airborne was the first unit to land in Japan near Tokyo as occupation forces on Aug. 30, 1945, which was Joe's 21st birthday. After the war he was a printer for 40 years in Kellogg, Idaho. Joe jumped from 1952 through 1955 and was a member of the NSA. He was with the New Mexico crew in Silver City for three seasons. Joe retired from the paper in the 1986. While jumping and working as a printer, he was known as the "Quiet man who worked hard."

Identifier

Wilson_Carl-J-Joe_Missoula_1952

Publication Date

June 2007

Keywords

Smokejumping; Smokejumpers -- United States; National Smokejumper Association; Wildfire fighters; Obituaries

Disciplines

Forest Management

Recommended Citation

National Smokejumper Association, "Smokejumper Obituary: Wilson, Carl J. "Joe" (Missoula 1952)" (2007). Smokejumper Obituaries. 1056.
https://dc.ewu.edu/smokejumper_bios/1056