Lucky Bag Yearbook

From the 1976 Lucky Bag:

DAVID LEO CARLSON

The swinging, southpaw pitcher from Falmouth, Mass. doggedly ducked and dodged demos and Chem profs for four years at USNA. Yet, for all his professed nonconformity, Spike (You know why?) had a healthy respect for regs (not much more). Speaking of details, Dave will be ever remembered for his record setting pace during the Plebe Detail. (Most Plebes per Hour on a Sunday afternoon, unaided). Chug-a-lug was always a man to have at your party, and was never known to turn down an invitation. At parties, Dave seemed to let loose all those anxieties from Chemistry and the frustrations of baseball. Sometimes these frustrations and a few golfclubs could usually clear a fairway. If anything four years have shown is that New Englanders don’t lose their accent, and that this place can’t keep a great man down.

Loss

David was lost when the SH-2F Seasprite he was piloting crashed into the sea alongside USS Reid (FFG 30) on January 21, 1985, 325 mi southwest of San Diego, California¹.

There are a few details of the crash at this site.

Other Information

From researcher Kathy Franz:

David graduated in 1972 from Lawrence High School. He was on the baseball team and was in the senior class Play “Ah, Wilderness!” performing a solo.

David was commissioning commanding officer of USS Gemini (PHM 6) from November 13, 1982 to July 1, 1984.

David was survived by his wife, Nancy, and parents; he is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

Photographs

From his high school yearbook. "Soloist, back stage"

Remembrance

From Michael Gordon ‘76 via email on April 13, 2026:

Dave was a terrific teammate… short left handed relief pitcher. While he may not have had a 98mph fastball, his pitches moved all over the place. great control and great movement. Dave didn’t get a lot of playing time and needed to appear in our last game against Army during June week 1976 to earn his varsity letter. I was truly happy when Coach Joe Duff came out of the dugout and called Dave in from the bullpen so that he could earn his N*! I met up with Coach Duff at Dave’s funeral at Arlington. He gave me a ride back to National Airport and during the ride he talked about Dave and our team as if we were still playing… he had very fond memories of Dave. I regret losing track of his wife Nancy. Dave’s parents lived on Cape Cod where I have a vacation home. Every time I cross over the bridge and see the signs for Falmouth, Ma, I think of Dave.

References