Evans Carlson

Evans Fordyce Carlson was a United States Marine Corps officer who, during his long career, served in the Mexican Revolution, World War II and the Korean War. Known as a charismatic and unconventional leader, he is best remembered for his command of Carlson's Raiders during World War II.

Carlson's most famous contribution during World War II was his command of the 2nd Marine Raider Battalion, also known as Carlson's Raiders. He led his unit in a series of successful guerilla-style hit-and-run raids against Japanese forces in the Pacific Theater.

One of Evans Carlson's most well-known quotes is "Gung ho!" This phrase, derived from the Chinese Mandarin term "gōnghé," meaning "work together," quickly became a slogan for teamwork and enthusiasm in both civilian and military contexts.

During the Korean War, Carlson served as the Commanding General of the 2nd Marine Division. He was responsible for leading his division in the Battle of Chosin Reservoir, a crucial and intense battle against Chinese forces in 1950.

Carlson's approach to warfare differed from traditional military tactics in that he heavily emphasized unconventional warfare and guerilla tactics. He believed in the importance of small, highly mobile units that could strike quickly and then vanish, causing confusion and disarray among enemy forces. His tactics were focused on disrupting and demoralizing the enemy rather than engaging in large-scale, conventional battles.