Recalling History

Dear Editor:

I was searching the internet last night at about one in the morning.  I was seeking information on BG Richard J. Tallman, my father, since I could not remember his exact birthday anymore. It has after all been almost 40 years since he was killed by enemy fire in Vietnam, the only flag officer of the US killed in that conflict to my knowledge, and the last one killed as the result of enemy action in any war or conflict.  I happened to open Despina Williams’ moving account of Sgt. Sims and found my father’s “analysis” at the end.

I recall when he returned from that tour, his second of what would be three and the start of a fourth tour over there.  I recall talking a little with him about Tet and the actions of his unit in the battle to retake Hue.  He mentioned that two of his troops had received the Medal of Honor in that engagement, both posthumously.  One was obviously Sgt Sims.  It is altogether fitting that you should write such a story of heroism which although not “current” is still real, an act off selflessness that is still meaningful and timeless.

My father was raised a farm boy in rural Pennsylvania and entered WWII as a machine-gunner in Patton’s army.  After the Bulge he was made a 2^nd Lt since the unit was in need of officers.  He later resigned his commission and attended West Point graduating in 1949.  He served in Korea as a company commander fighting the Chinese Communists.  Later he served as an advisor to the 22^nd Division, of the ARVN and then returned in 1967 as a battalion commander with the 101^st, Sgt Sims’s unit.    He returned to RVN as a brigade commander with the 101^st in 1971 and then, having been promoted to BG, returned for a final tour in 1972.  He was killed at the end of the battle of An Loc on July 9, 1972 by an enemy artillery shell at an outpost of an ARVN airborne unit.

He left behind a wife and seven children; I was a senior at West Point when we buried him there.

 I will pass on your article to my oldest son, Richard J. Tallman, who is scheduled to begin OCS in may and who intends to follow the path of an airborne/ranger/infantry officer like his father and grandfather.  I think the memory of these kinds of sacrifices are important, and the sense of duty to ones soldiers should be the greatest motivator for any officer.

Thank you for your article.

Joseph P. Tallman