Any information of Karl has been almost impossible to find. He was not a member of the Civilian Public Service group as a single entry in the Missoula jump records states "ex-Army paratrooper." Karl got nine practice and three fire jumps that season. He just jumped during the 1944 season.

A CPS bio on the Eastern Washington University website indicates that he was a spotter in'44, even though it was his first year as a smokejumper. That supports the information that he was a former "paratrooper." The same story says he "led calisthenics" for the'44 guys. Perhaps he was selected for that because he was older and had military jumping experience.