Lt. Col. Carl E. R. Black

Operations Officer ("Cerb")

Carl E.R. Black, 85, of Solon, Ohio, died April 25,2018, in Solon, Ohio. He was born May 25, 1932 in Bloomington, Illinois in Bloomington to the late Ellie and Irene Black of Bloomington. He is survived by his wife, Barbara; one daughter; three sons; three grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

Carl attended Normal Community High School from 1946 to 1950. He was in the National Honor Society. Student Council; F.F. A. (1) served as a reporter (2) Sec. (3) and President (4), Cross Country and Track (2, 3, and 4.) He was Salutatorian of his class.

Carl then went to Illinois State University. Upon graduation from ISU in 1954, Carl entered the Marine Corp at Quantico, Virginia in the Officer's Candidate Program. He was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in 1955, then attended flight school in Kingsville, Texas and Pensacola, Florida. He was designated a Naval Aviator in March, 1957. He served in Marine Fighter Squadrons 251, 333, 312, 235, VMT-2 and VMFA-314 in Vietnam.

On November 1, 1969, Maj. Black safely landed his F-4 when the hydraulic system failed, which prevented lowering of the aircraft's left wheel. It took two attempts, but Carl landed safely on the foamed ainway with only slight damage to the F-4 Phantom. In Vietnam, Carl flew 300 F-4 combat missions; he flew a total of 5100 flight hours, in twelve different types of aircraft with a total of 75 carrier landings. Carl was awarded two Distinguished Flying Crosses, 24 air medals, a Bronze Star with combat V and Meritorious Service Medal.

Carl served in Vietnam, Japan, Philippine Islands, Okinawa, Germany and Belgium. He was stationed in Virginia, Florida, Texas, South Carolina, California and Washington, D.C.

After Vietnam, Carl duty was at Headquarters Marine Corp, Defense Intelligent Agency and the Joint Chief of Staff. He retired in June 1975, as a Lieutenant Colonel.

While in Washington and Virginia he earned a Master's Degree in 1967 at George Washington University and a Ph.D. ABD. in 1972 at American University In '75-'81 he was part owner and General Manager of a consulting firm in Washington. From 1982- 1990, Carl became Director of Administration of a 100 attorney law firm in Rochester, New York, and in 1991 the Executive Director of a law firm in Cleveland.

Carl retired in 1995, and enjoyed maintaining his cars and communicating and research with his computer. He was amember of the Masonic Lodge and the Consistory in Bloomington, and a member of the Shrine in Fairfax, Va.

His funeral was on September 25 at Arlington National Cemetery.

Play appropriate Music:  "Will Ye No Come Back Again", a Scottish tune played in the last battle scene of Gunga Din. This version is from a Canadian military day remembrance ceremony.