Paul Carlson
Encyclopedia
Paul Carlson was an American medical missionary of the Evangelical Covenant Church
that served in Wasolo, a city in what is now the Democratic Republic of the Congo
. He was killed in 1964 by rebel insurgents after being falsely accused of being an American spy
.
Carlson was born in Culver City, California
, the son of Swedish
immigrant Gustav Carlson, a Southern California machinist
, and his wife Ruth. He graduated from North Park University
in 1948, and went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in anthropology
from Stanford in 1951, and finished medical school at George Washington University
in 1956. In 1963, he followed the call of the Covenant Church
to serve God as a missionary doctor, along with his wife and small family, in the Ubangi region of the Congo in Africa
.
Paul Carlson and family arrived in Congo and began working as medical missionaries in the town of Wasolo. Activities included working in the 80-bed hospital and leper colony. During this time, Dr. Carlson earned the nickname Monganga Paul, a name revealing a close and loving relationship with the local Congolese people. This work continued until the political unrest of the time reached them and the Carlson family crossed the Ubangi river to seek refuge in the Central African Republic
. Dr. Carlson, however, remained committed to his hospital and work in Wasolo, and he returned.
This return placed him in the middle of the political unrest of the time, and he soon fell into the hands of the rebel army. Under the unstable leadership of Christophe Gbenye
, the rebels accused Paul of being an American spy and took him as a hostage to Stanleyville, now Kisangani
. Dr. Carlson was held here for over a year and was mentally and physically tortured. On November 24, 1964, during a rescue attempt by American and Belgian
troops, Dr. Carlson was shot and killed by rebel gun fire. He was called the "Congo Martyr" and was on the front page of both Time and Life magazines.
His wife, Lois Carlson, wrote a biography on him called Monganga Paul.
The park and neighborhood of Carlson Park
in Culver City are named in honor or him.
Evangelical Covenant Church
The Evangelical Covenant Church is an evangelical Christian denomination of more than 800 congregations and an average worship attendance of 179,000 people in the United States and Canada with ministries on five continents. Founded in 1885 by Swedish immigrants, the church is now one of the most...
that served in Wasolo, a city in what is now the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Democratic Republic of the Congo
The Democratic Republic of the Congo is a state located in Central Africa. It is the second largest country in Africa by area and the eleventh largest in the world...
. He was killed in 1964 by rebel insurgents after being falsely accused of being an American spy
SPY
SPY is a three-letter acronym that may refer to:* SPY , ticker symbol for Standard & Poor's Depositary Receipts* SPY , a satirical monthly, trademarked all-caps* SPY , airport code for San Pédro, Côte d'Ivoire...
.
Carlson was born in Culver City, California
Culver City, California
Culver City is a city in western Los Angeles County, California. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 38,883, up from 38,816 at the 2000 census. It is mostly surrounded by the city of Los Angeles, but also shares a border with unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County. Culver...
, the son of Swedish
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
immigrant Gustav Carlson, a Southern California machinist
Machinist
A machinist is a person who uses machine tools to make or modify parts, primarily metal parts, a process known as machining. This is accomplished by using machine tools to cut away excess material much as a woodcarver cuts away excess wood to produce his work. In addition to metal, the parts may...
, and his wife Ruth. He graduated from North Park University
North Park University
North Park University is a four-year university located at 3225 W. Foster Avenue on the north side of Chicago, Illinois in the North Park neighborhood. It was founded in 1891 by the Evangelical Covenant Church and shares its campus with the denomination's only seminary...
in 1948, and went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in anthropology
Anthropology
Anthropology is the study of humanity. It has origins in the humanities, the natural sciences, and the social sciences. The term "anthropology" is from the Greek anthrōpos , "man", understood to mean mankind or humanity, and -logia , "discourse" or "study", and was first used in 1501 by German...
from Stanford in 1951, and finished medical school at George Washington University
George Washington University
The George Washington University is a private, coeducational comprehensive university located in Washington, D.C. in the United States...
in 1956. In 1963, he followed the call of the Covenant Church
Evangelical Covenant Church
The Evangelical Covenant Church is an evangelical Christian denomination of more than 800 congregations and an average worship attendance of 179,000 people in the United States and Canada with ministries on five continents. Founded in 1885 by Swedish immigrants, the church is now one of the most...
to serve God as a missionary doctor, along with his wife and small family, in the Ubangi region of the Congo in Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
.
Paul Carlson and family arrived in Congo and began working as medical missionaries in the town of Wasolo. Activities included working in the 80-bed hospital and leper colony. During this time, Dr. Carlson earned the nickname Monganga Paul, a name revealing a close and loving relationship with the local Congolese people. This work continued until the political unrest of the time reached them and the Carlson family crossed the Ubangi river to seek refuge in the Central African Republic
Central African Republic
The Central African Republic , is a landlocked country in Central Africa. It borders Chad in the north, Sudan in the north east, South Sudan in the east, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Republic of the Congo in the south, and Cameroon in the west. The CAR covers a land area of about ,...
. Dr. Carlson, however, remained committed to his hospital and work in Wasolo, and he returned.
This return placed him in the middle of the political unrest of the time, and he soon fell into the hands of the rebel army. Under the unstable leadership of Christophe Gbenye
Christophe Gbenye
Christophe Gbenye was a Congolese revolutionary who led an insurrection against the Government of Zaire in 1964....
, the rebels accused Paul of being an American spy and took him as a hostage to Stanleyville, now Kisangani
Kisangani
Kisangani is the capital of Orientale Province in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is the 3rd largest urbanized city in the country and the largest of the cities that lie in the tropical woodlands of the Congo....
. Dr. Carlson was held here for over a year and was mentally and physically tortured. On November 24, 1964, during a rescue attempt by American and Belgian
Belgian Army
The Land Component is organised using the concept of capacities, whereby units are gathered together according to their function and material. Within this framework, there are five capacities: the command capacity, the combat capacity, the support capacity, the services capacity and the training...
troops, Dr. Carlson was shot and killed by rebel gun fire. He was called the "Congo Martyr" and was on the front page of both Time and Life magazines.
His wife, Lois Carlson, wrote a biography on him called Monganga Paul.
The park and neighborhood of Carlson Park
Carlson Park, Culver City, California
Carlson Park is a suburban neighborhood in central Culver City, California. It is named for Dr. Paul Carlson Park, a city park in the center of the neighborhood, which is named for Culver City native Dr. Paul Carlson, a medical missionary martyred in the former Belgian Congo. Students residing in...
in Culver City are named in honor or him.
