Johnny Carson, WWII, US Navy (1943-1946)
/Johnny Carson (back row, 2nd from left) aboard the USS Pennsylvania
John William Carson (Entertainer)
b. 23 Oct 1925 – d. 23 Jan 2005
US Navy, WW2, 1943-1946
Admitted to the U.S. Navy's V-12 officer training program in 1943 as an apprentice seaman Johnny Carson hoped to train as a pilot, but was sent instead to Columbia University for midshipman training. Commissioned as an ensign in 1945, he reported for duty aboard the USS Pennsylvania on Aug. 14, just two days after the battleship had been hit by a kamikaze. As the new ensign on board, Carson was detailed to supervise the recovery of the bodies of sailors killed in the attack. He later served as a communications officer, decoding encrypted messages. He left the service in 1946. He later mused that the high point of his military career was performing a card trick for Secretary of the Navy James Forrestal and actually being able to entertain him!
Carson was also a fairly reknown amateur boxer during his time on the USS Pennsylvania... he retired his gloves with a 10-0 record. Below is a clip of Joe Frazier challenging Johnny to show off his skills on the Tonight Show. Johnny looks like he hasn't completely forgotten his glory days!
