Eldon D Carr

Eldon Doy “Al” Carr June 2, 1933 – September 7, 2025 Eldon Doy “Al” Carr was born June 2, 1933 in Maryville, Missouri, the son of Doy Henry Carr and Elsie Marie (Davidson) Carr. He passed away Sunday, September 7, 2025 at his home in Corvallis, Oregon, his daughter, son-in-law, and sister by his side. He was 92 years old. Al enjoyed a remarkable childhood. He won a “cute baby” contest, confirming what his mother already knew! As a youngster, he was raised primarily as a “farm kid” and teacher’s son in northwest Missouri and southwest Iowa. He would learn to drive a tractor and farm on his grandparent’s farm in Sheridan, Missouri. The outbreak of World War II changed that. Like many children during those years, their lives would abruptly change as fathers across the country signed up for military service and were sent to training bases around the country before being deployed in the war theater. During the war years, Al and his family would move to Alabama, Arkansas, Kansas, Washington, Georgia, Mississippi, and Wisconsin. He used to tell people that as a fifth-grader, he’d attended five different schools. After the war, Al’s father decided to stay in the military, and the family was sent to Pennsylvania and then to Tokyo, Japan where Al would graduate from Tokyo American High School in Meguro in 1952. There, he was involved in sports (lettering in football and track) and served as the vice-president of his Senior class. He also belonged to a “gang,” the Hobos, who became lifelong friends. Al’s father, Col. Doy Carr, was a distinguished officer and provost judge in the United States Army, serving in the Pacific Theater during WWII and on the post-war Japanese War Crimes Court. During this time, Al would take full advantage of living in occupied Japan. The trains were free to Americans, so he could travel throughout the country (often ditching school to do so). While his father listened to war crimes in the courts, Al and the Hobos would explore the subterranean bunkers near Tokyo made during the war. After high school Al decided to join the military. He applied and was accepted to all four military academies. After much consideration, he decided to attend West Point where he graduated in 1956, second in his class in engineering and mathematics. During the summers of his college years, Al traveled with friends to Mexico, and as his parents were then stationed in the Panama Canal Zone, he traveled throughout South America. Al met the love of his life in Mayfield, Kentucky, while he was serving at nearby Fort Campbell. Anna had recently returned to her hometown to become a schoolteacher. One of Anna’s close friends had a date with a “military guy” from Ft. Campbell and wanted Anna to come along, so she was set up on a blind date with Al at a place called “The Hitching Post” at Kentucky Lake. It was love at first sight. After a whirlwind courtship, Al and Anna were married on July 11, 1958 in Mayfield, Kentucky. Together they had two lovely children, Matt and Cathe. They were married for more than 63 years, until Anna passed into glory on January 18, 2022. Al served with distinction as a career officer in the United States Army, serving from 1956 to 1986. He was a graduate of the Air Command & Staff College (1966) and George Washington University (MA in Public Admin, 1966) and was part of the elite 75th Ranger Regiment. He retired at the rank of full colonel, having seen extensive combat during two tours in Vietnam, in 1964-1965 and 1969-1970. During his career he was XO of the 101st Airborne Division “screaming eagles,” a battalion advisor in the ARVN in Vietnam during his first tour, battalion CO and brigade XO of the 1st Cav Division in Vietnam during a second tour, with additional service in Washington DC and lengthy service in the Pentagon as a junior officer on the Joint Chiefs of Staff, plus deployments to Japan (’59-’62) and Germany (’70-’72). Al was a decorated Silver Star recipient, for bravery beyond the call of duty shown in Vietnam. He saved the lives of many fellow soldiers through heroic gallantry in the face of the enemy. At great personal risk, Al dropped into a firebase encircled and infiltrated by the enemy. The encircled unit’s officers had been killed in action, and the unit was very short on ammunition. Al took command, reorganized the unit, and held the position at great peril until they successfully fought off the enemy. Al was decorated with the Army Commendation Medal, with V-device, for actions in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Army and reflecting great personal credit, as he voluntarily led an assault against a superior VC position, several times exposing himself to intense hostile fire. When one of the assault platoons came under such heavy fire that it was pinned down, Al further exposed himself to withering fire and successfully conducted an orderly withdrawal to a defensible position. For his combat service in Vietnam, Al was not only the recipient of the Silver Star and the Army Commendation Medal, he also received the Bronze Star with two Oak Leaf Clusters (meaning 3 Bronze Stars for those not familiar), the Legion of Merit with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Purple Heart, and many, many additional distinctions and commendations for a total of 37 medals. Other notable deployments include Al’s service in Little Rock, Arkansas in 1957 during the desegregation of Central High School. As part of the 101st Airborne Division, he was sent to Little Rock to ensure the safety of nine African-American students at the previously all-white school for several months. Al also experienced the above-ground nuclear tests in Nevada. He would later work at the Pentagon at the service of President Nixon, serving as an advisor to the nation’s nuclear program and devising test scenarios in the event of nuclear war. Beyond their military life, Al and Anna enjoyed a beautiful and colorful life together. They loved to travel as a family, visiting Taiwan and Hong Kong and traveling all through Japan while stationed in Tokyo. When they were stationed in Germany, the family camped and skied throughout Western Europe, visiting France, Switzerland, Austria, Germany, Spain, Portugal, Andorra, Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. The family loved skiing, camping in their VW camper bus, and spending time together. After Al retired from the service in 1987, and with both children pursuing wonderful lives of their own, Al and Anna settled in California, where they practiced real estate together for 19 years, building up a highly successful business in the Sacramento area. They were so successful that they were awarded a place in the Sacramento Realtor’s “Masters Club” for being earners in the top 4-5% based on sales volume. After retiring from real estate, Al and Anna moved to Corvallis and became avid travelers again – this time in their RV and on cruise lines. They visited every State Park in Oregon, all 50 States, every Canadian province, and all the islands in the Atlantic and Pacific near the U.S. They also made an extended trip along the coast of South America. One of their favorite things to do together late-in-life was to sit together on their sunporch, sipping wine, while watching the beautiful sunsets on Mary’s Peak and discussing their travel plans. Al and Anna greatly loved Jesus Christ and they made regular church attendance a top priority in their lives. Together they helped to plant a Methodist church in California. When they moved up to Corvallis, Oregon they initially attended Calvin Presbyterian Church with Al’s mother. In 2010, they became members of Westminster Presbyterian Church in Corvallis, participating faithfully in Lord’s Day worship for the rest of their lives. Anna expertly arranged the flowers in the church sanctuary, while Al was a regular of the men’s fellowship book study for many years. Al and Anna were known at Westminster for their hospitality and they were affectionately regarded as the best-dressed couple. Al was preceded in death by his lovely wife, Anna, and by their only son, Matt. He was also preceded in death by his parents, Anna’s brother and sister-in-law, Dan and Terri Matthews, his brother-in-law, Hugh Crowe, and his nieces, Karen and Kathy Crowe. Al is survived by his daughter, Cathe and her husband, Dean Avila, his sister, Anita Crowe, nieces and nephews, Steve and Cindy Crowe, Mark and Judy Crowe, Susan and Pat Schreiber, Anna Lou and John Roach, Teedle and Kenneth Dillon, Mary Ellen Matthews, and all their many children and grandchildren. Al was a wonderful husband and father, brother, uncle, son, and friend. He will be greatly missed.

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Eldon D Carr

June 2, 1933 - September 7, 2025