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[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E572-E573]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
CELEBRATING THE ARMY SERVICE OF CORPORAL MARION ``MARK'' CARLTON
______
HON. BRIAN BABIN
of texas
in the house of representatives
Thursday, June 25, 2020
Mr. BABIN. Madam Speaker, on this 70th Anniversary of the Korean War,
I rise today to honor a great soldier and patriot, Corporal Marion
``Mark'' Herbert Carlton, United States Army, for his service as a
Combat Motion Picture Cameraman in the 71st Signal Corps, ``the eyes
and ears to the U.S. Army'' during combat in the Korean War.
After voluntarily enlisting in the Army on September 15, 1948,
Private Carlton completed basic training at Fort Ord, California and
later attended the Department of Army Signal School in Fort Monmouth,
New Jersey. After graduation in May 1949, he was immediately stationed
in Tokyo, Japan, just prior to the outbreak of the Korean War.
Corporal Carlton helped document the beachhead invasion on September
15, 1950 in Incheon, Korea, while carrying a colt 45, pistol on his
side, grease gun and motion picture camera. He later went on to render
the Department of Defense and the U.S. Airforce a great service in
securing for the Department of Defense photographic material of enemy
obtained while flying on the First B-29 Raid on the North Korean
Peninsula with the Far East Air Forces.
According to Corporal Carlton's Citation for the Bronze Star Medal,
during the period of July 23-24, 1950, PFC Carlton rendered meritorious
service as an official Signal Corps Motion Picture Cameraman covering
combat operations in Korea. Private Carlton, acting on his own
initiative, exposed thousands of feet of motion picture film, achieving
technically superior and historically significant results. With little
regard for his own safety, he photographed frontline combat action as
he toured the forward area of the 1st Cavalry Division, the 24th
Infantry Division, and frontal positions of various elements of the
Army of the Republic of Korea. Through his exceptional initiative,
technical skill and courage under enemy fire, Private Carlton
materially assisted in providing a photographic record of the Korean
Campaign that has proven of inestimable value for tactical and
logistical purposes in subsequent operations, and for historical
recordings and news services. His exemplary performance of duty under
extremely hazardous conditions reflects great credit on himself and the
military service.
While accompanying a Marine Division north of the 38th parallel,
Private Carlton was wounded by an incoming mortar, which tragically
killed a Marine officer standing between him and the explosion. While
sustaining shrapnel and percussive wounds to his legs and lower back,
Carlton attributes his life to the nearby Marine officer whose body
blocked most of the shrapnel and explosion. Carlton remains forever
grateful for that officer's sacrifice. Private Carlton was immediately
medivacked via helicopter to a Tokyo hospital and temporarily forced
out of action. That Marine unit received decorations for their heroic
achievement and gallantry.
After a short stent in the hospital Corporal Carlton returned to the
battlefield and accompanied a Marine Division beachhead landing at
Wonsan, North Korea. Corporal Carlton continued to document and report
enemy troop movements and hostilities north of 38th parallel for the
duration of his tour. In many instances, Corporal Carlton was ordered
to report to General Headquarters in Tokyo to personally narrate his
films for Supreme Commander for Far East Command General Douglas
MacArthur and other military leaders.
Following his Honorable Discharge from the Army, Mr. Carlton
continued in the motion picture field and served as a reporter at WFAA-
TV in Dallas, Texas. He later went on to shoot motion pictures of
medical procedures for Baylor Medical School in Dallas. Following his
venture into medical motion pictures, Mr. Carlton had various roles in
the motion picture industry, which included being President of the
Texas Oklahoma Photo Supply. He also owned and operated his own
television production studio in Dallas.
Several years later, Mr. Carlton finally found his true calling and
went on to work for the University of Texas Health Science Center's
[[Page E573]]
UT-Health to develop their telemedicine program. One of Mr. Carlton's
most distinguished roles there was creating and managing Texas legend
Dr. James ``Red'' Duke's Texas Health Reports. This nationally
syndicated television program educated millions of Americans on health
and nutrition matters. Mr. Carlton finished his career as Executive
Director of International Telemedicine at MD Anderson the world-
renowned Cancer Research Hospital in Houston, where he made many
technological breakthroughs in documenting medical procedures and
helped pioneer techniques in the field of telemedicine.
Mr. Carlton was married to the love of his life, Mrs. Patti Whitmire
Carlton, for forty-years until her death in May 2020. They have 3
children: Dave, Brian, Craig. He has numerous grandchildren, and great-
grandchildren. The Carlton/Whitmire family has a long history of career
military and public service to our country spanning several
generations.
Madam Speaker, I would like to thank Corporal Marion ``Mark'' Carlton
for his selfless military service to this great nation.
____________________
