Carl enlisted in the Marine Corps at the age of 17 after getting permission from his parents, following his two older brothers Charles (Army) and Walter (Marines). Carl served from December 9, 1942 - November 25, 1945 as second Marine torpedo bomber.

On May 29, 1945, Carl's plane crash landed after running out of gas into the ocean off of Okinawa. They were in a heavy overcast with most of their instruments out of order. They were dangerously close to the Japanese held island and were spotted by the Sea Air Rescue Plane which signaled a nearby Naval ship, after 72 hours of being on a raft. Carl commented, "we were just laying there waiting to find out if we were noticed by the Japanese while bombs were going off around us.

- Marsha Brashears