Jodie Randolph Carson was born on September 26, 1900, in Pitt County, North Carolina. Carson enlisted in Company A of the North Carolina National Guard Engineers (later redesignated as the Company A of the 105th Engineers) on July 13, 1917. He deserted later that year but was caught, court-martialed, fined, and returned to his unit. He deployed overseas, serving in the war zone from May 1918 to April 1919. He was honorably discharged with the rank of private first class on April 16, 1919. Carson died in Durham (Durham County) on October 19, 1958.