Clifford registered for the draft on Oct 16, 1940 in Toledo, OH. He was 22 years old, born April 9, 1918, in Mannington, West VA. He gave the home address of his father, Thomas Bernard Carson, in Essexville, Bay Co., MI.
The 1930 Census for Chippewa, Isabella, MI., shows Thomas B. Carson, 40 yo, born West VA., Lillian A., wife, 40 yo, born West VA., and children: Clifford, 11 yo, Cleo, 10 yo, Jane E., 8 yo and Janet K., 8 yo (twins), and Thomas D., 5 yo. All the children were born in West VA.
The 1940 Census for Essexville, Bay, Co., MI shows Clifford in the home, age 21 with his sisters Cleo, Jane and Jeanette (twins).
When Clifford registered for the draft he was working at the Great Lakes Transport Corporation in Detroit, Wayne Co., OH.
Clifford returned home from Detroit, OH., and married Mary Trerice, of Bay City, MI., on Aug 5, 1940. Clifford was 23 and Mary was 22 years old. She was born July 6, 1919 in MI., the daughter of George and Olga Pearsoll Trerice.
In 1942, Clifford and Mary are noted in the Bay City, MI., City Directory living at 723 Fillmore Place. He was working as a station engineer. Some time that year, Mary gave birth to a baby boy, David G. Carson.
Source Credits1930 US Census, MI, Isabella Co., Chippewa Twsp., Dist 37-2. Enumerated April 10, 1930. HH# 60, citing Thomas B. Carson family
1940 US Census, MI, Bay Co., Essexville, Dist. 9-36. Enumerated April 4, 1940. HH# 615, citing Thomas B. Carson family
OH, Lucas Co., Marriage Book 1940, Cert. #126082, page 95 citing Clifford Carson and Mary Trerice
1942 Michigan, Bay City, City Directory, p. 63. Ancestry.com. U.S., City Directories, 1822-1995
Navy Department, Casualty Section, Office of Public Information (1946): Combat Connected Naval Casualties, WWII, by States; Vol. AL-MO; MI, p. 6, citing Clifford Carson, F1c, USNR. Wife, Mrs. Mary Elaine Carson, 723 Filmore St., Bay City.
1950 US Census, OH, Hardin Co., Kenton, Dist. 33-9. Enumerated April 20, 1950
HH# 321, citing Frederick A. Bourne and wife Mary E. with stepson, David G. Carson, 8yo., b. MI.
The Bay City Times, Michigan, Tuesday, July 30, 1946, Vol. 74, page 3; citing Two Bay Cityans Went Down with USS Indianapolis, Year Ago Today.
The Bay City Times, Michigan, Tuesday, October 9, 1945, Vol. 73, page 1; citing Clifford Carson Reported Dead.
Rank / Rating: F1-Fireman First Class
Clifford enlisted in the USN on June 22, 1944 in Detroit and the same day he was received at Great Lakes, IL., USN Training Center. After basic training, his rate was advanced to F2c (Fireman 2nd class) on Sept 5, 1944. He was sent for additional training and on Sept 21, 1944 he arrived at the Great Lakes, IL., Service Schools Command, Training Center. Upon completion of the program his rate and rating was F2c, (Fireman 2nd class), WT (water tender).
Clifford was transferred to the receiving station, Navy Yard, Philadelphia, PA., on Nov 23, 1944 and received on Nov 24, 1944. He was transferred to the receiving station at Shoemaker, CA on Dec 6, 1944 where he arrived on Dec 11, 1944.
Clifford was transferred from Shoemaker on Christmas Eve, Dec 24, 1944, to the receiving station at San Diego, CA. This must have been a lonely time being away from his wife and family members.
Only six days later, Clifford walked up the gangway to be received aboard USS Indianapolis CA-35 on Dec 30, 1944.
On May 1, 1945, he advanced in rate to F1c (WT). His joy of this advancement would last only 90 days.
Clifford was lost at sea when Indianapolis was torpedoed and sunk by Japanese submarine I-58 on July 30, 1945.
His wife, Mary, and son, David G., were still living in Bay City, MI., at the time of Clifford's death. His parents were still living in their home in Essexville, MI.
Clifford was entitled to wear the Asiatic-Pacific ribbon with two bronze star devices attached for his participation on board during the Iwo Jima Operations and Okinawa Gunto Operation.
His name is inscribed on the Tablets of the Missing in the Manila American Cemetery, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig, Philippines. He was awarded the Purple Heart, posthumously.
Also, a memorial stone stands in Arlington National Cemetery that reads:
In Memory Of
Thomas Clifford Carson, F1C, USN, WWII, April 9, 1918, Jul 30, 1945, USS Indianapolis
Memorial Section K, Site 78
The obituary of Clifford Carson is shown below.
Also, below, is a limited Newspaper Clipping dated July 30 1946 (one year after the July 30, 1945 sinking of USS Indianapolis) which mentions Carson and two Indy Shipmates, Donald Frorath and James Drummond who were also Lost at Sea. All three were from Bay City, Michigan.
MICHIGAN MEMORIAL PLAQUE
See photographs, below, of a memorial plaque that was dedicated circa 1946 to honor seventy-two (72) State of Michigan men who served on USS Indianapolis CA-35 and who were Lost At Sea.
Clifford CARSON's name is listed on the plaque!
Per the caption on one of the photos, the plaque was originally planned in 1946 for display at a proposed Detroit Civic Center. The plaque was initially displayed at the Detroit Naval Post VFW #233. However, the plaque had vanished for decades, fueling rumors of theft, being melted for scrap, or hidden away in a private basement.
Thanks to the tireless efforts of Jeff Ortiz (nephew of LAS Y3 Orlando Ortiz) and Joni Deaver (cousin of LAS sailor S2c Charles Roof Jr.), this priceless piece of history has been re-discovered in the Detroit Historical Society storage basement in Michigan.
One of the photos shows Jeff Ortiz and Ralph McNabb (nephew of LAS F2 Thomas McNabb, Jr) standing behind the very dusty plaque as it was found.
ABBOTT, George Stanley 
FRONTINO, Vincent Fred 
AMICK, Homer Irwin