Carl Talbert graduated from New London High School and, when he was still just 19 years old, he enlisted in the Navy in May 1940. After training at Norfolk, Virginia, he was stationed on the USS Cassin. On the morning of Dec. 7, 1941, the ship happened to be in drydock during the attack by the Japanese Navy. Talbert was injured when he was hit in the head by flying debris after a bomb had struck the ship. After spending 10 days in the hospital, Talbert returned to duty. He participated in numerous other engagements during the war including serving on one of the support vessels that were involved with the Doolittle Raid that bombed the Japanese mainland. After the war, Talbert continued to serve in the Navy until about 1959. He returned to Stanly County where he worked at Lefler Funeral Home for a few years and then at the Albemarle Post Office for 20 years before retiring. Carl Talbert passed away Sept. 6, 2008. {Lewis Bramlett – Stanly County Historical Society}