Father's influence transcended career counseling for young Carlton

By G.W. Pomeroy
Air Force Surgeon General Public Affairs

WASHINGTON -- If someone’s father becomes a four-star general, and the son – and namesake – becomes a three-star general, it might be tempting to assume that the father’s career path had a direct influence on the son.

In the case of Lt. Gen. Paul K. Carlton Jr., that would be a safe assumption.

However, in the Carlton household, overt influence on career paths took a back seat to other issues. 

“I had other career choices but I had grown up in the Air Force,” Carlton said.  “The Air Force was part of our life.  I had always dreamed of going to the Air Force Academy and when I graduated from high school off I went.”

When asked what he learned from his father, Carlton – who retires Sept. 23 after 33 years of active duty in the Air Force -- doesn’t balk.

“Persistence and determination clearly are things I learned from my dad,” Carlton said. 

But the real world in which the elder Carlton honed these traits was not for the faint of heart.  This is because his mentor was one of the icons of American military history, Gen. Curtis E. LeMay.   

The elder Carlton’s direct association with LeMay began during a four-year stint in the early 1950s as LeMay’s aide-de-camp when the icon was commander-in-chief of Strategic Air Command.  He was a front-row witness as LeMay engineered what could be considered his greatest accomplishment:  building SAC into one of the most effective military units in the world. 

Carlton was there as LeMay built new bases, facilities and training programs; and began a “spot promotion” system for rewarding his best aircrews.  Such proximity also put Carlton in full view of LeMay’s legendary iron discipline and enormous will.

Carlton would ultimately learn that LeMay’s vision of the Air Force did not include him as a general officer.  In fact, LeMay went so far as to ask Carlton – who considered LeMay his father, mentor and best friend -- to retire after a serious medical situation put him in the hospital for a prolonged time. 

“But Dad said, ‘No thanks.  I've still got things to contribute.  Thank you.’  He was told he would never be promoted beyond colonel; that was as high as he would go.  Dad said, ‘Yes, Sir.  Got it.’”

LeMay – who once staged a fake bombing raid on Dayton, Ohio, to show the level to which he believed that SAC was in disarray -- backed up his assessment by blocking Carlton’s promotion to General Officer for several years. 

During this period, Carlton served as director of operations for the 320^th Bombardment Wing and director of plans for 15^th Air Force, both at March AFB, Calif.  He served as director of operations for SAC’s 3^rd Air Division at Andersen AB, Guam, and deputy commander of the 93^rd Bombardment Wing at Beale AFB, Calif.

He commanded the 4126^th Strategic Wing also at Beale; the 379^th Bombardment Wing at Wurtsmith AFB, Mich.; and the 305^th Bombardment Wing at Bunker Hill AFB, Ind.

It was also during this time, that LeMay – who became the fifth Air Force chief of staff in 1961 -- was a fairly regular dinner guest at the Carlton household.

Carlton, the son, at one point asked his father how he could maintain a close relationship “when LeMay did not allow you to be promoted?”

“My dad said: ‘No, no, no.  LeMay was man of character. You knew where you stood.  You knew what the issues were. And you knew what was important and what was not important.’

“My dad finished what he thought was so important to get done,” Carlton said.  “And so I saw the persistence.  I saw the determination.  I saw that the task is much more important than your personal status.”

Carlton’s dad was promoted to one-star general in 1965, shortly after LeMay retired.  The U.S. Senate confirmed his presidential nomination to four-star general in October 1972.  He retired in March 1977.