Carl Gwartney was born June 11, 1920 in Hooper, Colorado. He grew up in that rural state until hearing about the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Carl was 21, newly married, and still living in his hometown. He was a part owner of a light plane, had a pilot’s license and had amassed more than 300 flying hours. During the Second World War, he was a glider pilot in the 29th Troop Carrier Squadron