Staff Sergeant Carlson was a member of the 6132nd Tactical Control Squadron, U.S. Air Force. He was listed as Missing in Action while participating in aerial support over Korea on 1 November 1950. He was presumed dead on 6 November 1953. His name is inscribed on the Courts of the Missing at the Honolulu Memorial.

For his leadership and valor, Staff Sergeant Carlson was awarded the Bronze Star Medal, the Air Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters, the Purple Heart, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal.