The Fantastic Quilt Guild Quilts of Valor chapter of Fairfield Glade presented a Quilt of Valor to Thomas Carlson at the Carlson home in Fairfield Glade.
Carlson’s wife Evelyn witnessed the presentation by Janice Cahill and Cass Lowery.
In 1973, Carlson joined the U.S. Navy as a naval dental officer serving at San Diego, CA, Naval Recruiting Depot; USS AJAX (AR-6) deployed to the Indian Ocean in support of American hostages taken in Tehran, Iran; Naval Amphibious Base Coronado; Post Doctoral one-year residency training in Advanced Comprehensive Dentistry.
From 1983-87, Carlson went to New Makri, Greece Naval Communication Station, where he was the Navy’s only dentist; 1987-90, U.S. Marine Combat Training Command at Quantico, VA.
He deployed in 1990-92 to the Persian Gulf as Dental Department head. In 1992-94, Carlson was Naval Station Fleet liaison officer for 20,000 sailors aboard ships deployed from San Diego, making sure all sailors had healthy teeth as there was no dental care on board.
Carlson served in 1994-95 at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego, head of Complex Care and Staff Dental Treatment Clinic; in 1995-98 at Lisbon, Portugal, where he provided dental care to all NATO allies and families; and 1993-2003 at Great Lakes, IL, U.S. Navy Recruit Training Command, where naval recruits receive their initial basic training.
After 30 years, Carlson retired from active duty on June 1, 2003, as 05 rank (commander).