Harry Carswell, Sr.

Harry Carswell, Sr., 92, of 1813 Broadell Drive, Fayetteville, died Saturday, September 29, 2018 at his residence. 

Graveside services will be conducted on Friday, October 05, 2018 at 1pm at Rockfish Memorial Park in Fayetteville.

He was born in Macon Georgia June 23, 1926. Harry served his country with honor in the
United States Army, enlisting at the age of 17 years old with help from his mother, who signed
papers granting permission because he wasn’t old enough and he was drafted during World
War II. He served in the segregated Army until the 1950’s and in 1952 joined the Regiment
Combat team in Korea, only the third African American enlisted there at the time.
Harry worked as a truck driver during WWII in the Red Ball Express and a mechanic in the
Korean War and kept re-enlisting because of the lack of jobs for African Americans in civilian
life. He never wavered to re-enlist saying, “Nothing to be scared about, the man wanted you
in the Army, you went.” He served his basic training, in Fort Bragg.
When he did serve throughout Europe, to include, France, Belgium, Germany, Austria,
Luxembourg and Italy, he discovered a church in Milan. All three sides of the church were
bombed out, but the back still standing, and on it hung a painting of the Last Supper. Harry
would sometimes recount that moment, marveling how “Jesus’ eyes in that painting looked
real.” Harry retired from the U.S. Army in 1967 with a bronze star medal awarded to service
men or women who after December 6, 1941 distinguished themselves by heroic or
meritorious achievement or service not involving participation in aerial flight.

Harry loved watching westerns or “shoot ‘em ups,” and political talk shows and the nightly
news. He absolutely loved talking about current events and politics to everyone including all
of his family members and friends. Harry would spend many days and evenings at the VFW
Post 6019 and he was a member of the Retired Military Association.
Harry is preceded in death by his mother, Louise May Carswell, father Charles “Charlie”
Carswell, his brother Lorenzo Carswell and son Harry Franklin Carswell Jr.

Harry is survived by his wife Mary Evans Carswell, children Harry Carswell, III of Fayetteville,
NC ( Martha), Armethsyt Lucius, MI, Hildreth Carswell Jones (John), Florida, Agnes Johnnetta
Carswell, Florida, David Lorenzo Carswell and Reginald M. Carswell both of MI, Regina
Carswell Russo ( Matthew) Ohio, Step-daughter, Terri Cannon of Fayetteville, Step-sons,
Anthony Cone of Fayetteville, Jimmy Miller of SC and Michael Brown of Jacksonville, NC. His
uncle George May Carswell of Macon, GA, 8 grandchildren, 3 great grandchildren and two
great great-grandchildren, and host of other family and friends also survive

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