Cpl Nathan E. Carlson

Corporal Nathan Carlson was born in Rockford, Illinois. He graduated from Harlem High School in 2019 where he was captain of the swim team. Upon graduation, he enlisted into the Marine Corps and attended Marine Corps Boot Camp at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego. He graduated boot camp in August of 2019 and officially earned the title of Marine.

Private First Class Carlson then reported to the School of Infantry in Camp Pendleton, CA where he attended Marine Combat Training (MCT). Upon completing MCT, he attended Naval Aircrew candidate School in Pensacola, FL where he received water survival training. In January of 2020 he reported to the Center of Naval Aviation Technical Training (CNATT) at Marine Corps Air Station New River where he learned the basic technical skills of a MV-22B mechanic. Upon graduating CNATT, he went to Marine Air Group 26 (MAG-26) for initial crew chief training on the MV-22B at Marine Medium Tiltrotor Training Squadron 204. On September 11, 2020, Lance Corporal Carlson was winged and officially became a Naval Aircrewman.

Lance Corporal Carlson then reported to MAG-39, Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 364 (VMM-364) in September 2020. It was here that he was promoted to the rank of Corporal and served as a leader in the Flight Line Division as a Basic Instructor Crew Chief and Plane Captain.

In October 2020, Corporal Carlson participated in Service Level Training Exercise 21-1. In April 2021 he deployed with the squadron to Special Purpose marine Air Ground Task Force – Crisis Response – Central Command based out of Al Jaber Air Base, Kuwait and Prince Sultan Air Base, Saudi Arabia. Upon returning from deployment, Corporal Carlson married the love of his life, Emily Baxter.

He would go on to begin training to become a Low Altitude Tactics instructor, Night Systems instructor, Tail Gunnery Instructor, as well as a Collateral Duty Inspector. Corporal Carlson was able to amass over 500 total flight hours and over 70 combat hours while at VMM-364.

Corporal Carlson is survived by his wife, Emily Baxter-Carlson; his parents, Karrie and Eric Carlson; and his sisters, Casey and Mylee Carlson and many close family and friends. Nathan will forever be remembered as a loving husband, son, brother, grandson, nephew, cousin and friend.

Funeral Service will be held Saturday, July 2, 2022, from 2:30 – 3:30 p.m., with a Marine fly over following the service, at Harlem High School, 1 Huskie Circle, Machesney Park, IL 61115.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be made in Nathan’s honor to the Harlem High School Swim Team, 1 Huskie Circle, Machesney Park, IL 61115 or the Wingman Foundation, wingmanfoundation.org.