Carl C. Turner

Carl C. Turner (10 April 191331 December 1996) was a Major general in the United States Army. His highest rank was as Army Provost Marshal General from 1964 to 1968; in that post he was involved in the responses to some of the major civil and political disturbances of the 1960s. Following his retirement from the Army, he served briefly as Chief, Executive Office for United States Marshals in 1969. In 1971 he pled guilty to charges of illegal firearms transactions and income tax evasion and was sentenced to three years in prison.

Early life and education He was born on 10 April 1913 in Altus, Oklahoma. He attended Southwestern Teachers College, graduating in May 1939 with a Bachelor of Science degree.

Military career He enlisted in the 45th Infantry Division, part of the Oklahoma National Guard in 1930 at the age of 17.

He was commissioned as an infantry officer in the United States Army in 1935 and served in the European theatre in World War II. In October 1961 he was nominated for promotion to Brigadier general. From 1962 to 1964 he served as provost marshal of the US Army Europe and during this time he graduated from the Bundeswehr parachute school. Turner was appointed to a similar role during the July 1967 Detroit riot. In March 1968 at a planning meeting for expected summer riots he advocated a tough approach towards rioters calling them criminals and rejected describing riots as "civil disobedience." During the April 1968 Chicago riots he again served as personal representative of the Army chief of staff.

Turner was accused of having ignored William O. Wooldridge's earlier theft and AWOL offenses that were notified to him at the time Wooldridge's appointment as first Sergeant Major of the Army was announced in late 1966. Turner was later accused of having covered up an attempt by Wooldridge to smuggle 8-9 cases of liquor aboard General Creighton Abrams' KC-135 jet in April 1967.

In January 1971 he was indicted by a Federal grand jury for illegal firearms transactions and income tax evasion which had come to light during the PX Scandal.

Death He died of a heart attack on 31 December 1996 and was buried at Arlington National Cemetery.