This Military Service Page was created/owned by
Timothy Gant (Tim), MM1
to remember
Carson, John William (Johnny), ENS.
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The king of late-night TV for over three decades, Johnny Carson was born in Corning, Iowa, on October 23, 1925. He was working as a theater usher when World War II began. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy on June 8, 1943, as an apprentice seaman enrolled in the V-5 program, which trained Navy and Marine pilots. He was shipped to Midshipmen's school at Columbia University in New York for Naval-Reserve Officers' Training. From there he was transferred to Millsap College in Jackson Missippippi.
He hoped to train as a pilot, but was sent instead to Columbia University for midshipman training. He performed magic for classmates on the side.
Commissioned an ensign late in the war, Carson was assigned to the USS Pennsylvania, a battleship on station in the Pacific. He was en route to the combat zone aboard a troopship when the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki brought the war to a close.
The Pennsylvania was torpedoed on August 12, 1945 and Carson reported for duty on the 14th — the last day of the war. Although he arrived too late for combat, he got a firsthand education in the consequences of war. The damaged warship sailed to Guam for repairs, and as the newest and most junior officer, Carson was assigned to supervise the removal of 20 dead sailors.
He later served as a communications officer in charge of decoding encrypted messages. He recalls that the high point of his military career was performing a magic trick for Secretary of the Navy James Forrestal.
After serving in the Navy, Carson attended and graduated from the University of Nebraska. After college, he worked for various radio and television shows in California. In 1962, Carson became the permanent host of the Tonight Show. He went on to host the show for thirty years, and became one of the most recognizable television personalities.
Other Comments:
Statement on Passing of U.S. Navy Veteran Johnny Carson
Story Number: NNS050125-02Release Date: 1/25/2005 8:57:00 AM
Special message from Secretary of the Navy Gordon England
WASHINGTON (NNS) -- Secretary of the Navy Gordon R. England issued the following statement Jan. 24 on the passing of U.S. Navy veteran and long-time host of NBC television's "Tonight Show" Johnny Carson. Carson passed away Jan. 23 at the age of 79.
"The United States Navy joins the rest of America in mourning the passing of Johnny Carson. A great entertainer and a shipmate, serving as a naval officer in World War II, he is a part of America's 'Greatest Generation' that will never be forgotten."
