The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-08-04

laden with troops, was seen fast ap- preaching the island. Just as the Marines were convinced the end had come, the submerged. It had learned of the Jap transport and was hiding under water until the opportune moment arrived to pick up the Marines.
 Lauds Carlson
 La France glowed with admiration when he spoke of It. Col. Evans Carlson, who was born in Plymouth. Every guy in the outfit would have gone to hell for hinr-that's what we thought of him." he said. He also displayed equal respect for It. Col. James Roosevelt, his executive ofiicer. Both men, LaFrance said, were always with the first assault troops during beachhead landings.
 LaFrance was only few yards from Col. Carlson when he was wounded on the Saipan battlefield while attempting to rescue a Marine scout, who lay dying several yards ahead of the American lines. Sev- eral rescue attempts by medical men had been frustrated by inten- sive enemy fire. Col. Carlson, crouch ing low. reached the Marine with out difficulty, but just as he was about to lift him in his arms, Jap fire struck him in the wrists and knees. But the colonel, always man of ingenuity, outwitted the en- anafya Tna ty1cfyurntad +toA young Marine to place his arms about his waist, and the pair rolled over each other until they reached the American lines.
 Col. Carlson most impressed his charges, according to LaFrance, with his philosophy that all the men in the outfit were of equal standing, despite their differences in rank, because each had contributed his share to the success of the raids.
 Thoroughly democratic, LaFrance related that the colonel had en- gagged in a heated controversy about military tactics with an Army officer of high rank, and had vehemently expressed his opinions. He later said to Col. Jimmy Roosevelt in the presence of the outfit: Guess I wouldn't have been SO cocky if your old man wasn't President"
 Sniper's Bullet
 It was at Guam, where the raid CTS liberated many Americans from Jap prison camps, that LaFrance Secame disabled. kllG 5y 6 u,.eer twist of fate, he was not in com- bat. He and several other Marines were chasing COW to obtain fresh meat for an enjoyable meal when a Jap sniper's bullet struck him in the spine. He was subsequently, shipped home for disqualification and an honorable discharge. But Col. Carlson has not forgotten the men he lead into battle. While hos pitalizcd last Christmas, LaFrance received a card from his former chief.
 The Waterbury Marine enlisted in March. 1S41, and joined the Raiders at Pearl Harbor shortly after the attack. when Col. Carlson sent out call for volunteers. More than 1000 men began training in Califor- mia, but in three months the num- Der has reduced itself to 800 be- cause of its rugged training. The Raiders disbanded at Bougainville, and Col. Carlson came home to seek treatment for his wounded arm. He later returned to the Pacific area. He is currently @ patient at the San Diego Naval hospital where he is receiving further treatment of the wounds received at Saipan.
 His father, a Congregational min- ister in Plymouth, and his sister. Karen, who worked in the machine sl.op of the Waterbury Tool, division of vickers, for several years, left Connecticut early this year to make their home with the colonel in Cali fornia.
 Prior to joining the service. Jerry LaFrance was well-known as singer over various radio networks and appeared at several prominent night clubs in the New England area. He hopes to resume his career shortly