THE WALL OF FACES

The “Friends of Rocky Versace” remember one of Rocky’s fellow alumni from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point - a brother Paratrooper - Brigadier General Richard Joseph Tallman, USMA Class of 1949, on what would’ve been his 96th birthday - 28 March 2021. BG Tallman's son, Joseph, is USMA 1973.

Thank you General Tallman, for your great leadership. Our United States military thrives today because of great men like yourself. We Americans owe a debt of gratitude to you. I know I do. Rest In Peace.

....for your leadership in our armed forces of America. You are from the same great generation as my parents born in 1924 and 1925. Today is the 95th anniversary of your birth. Your life sets a prime example for future leaders of our nation. As a veteran of our U.S. military, I solute you gratefully for your service to America.

BRIGADIER GENERAL

RICHARD JOSEPH TALLMAN

Brigadier General Tallman was the last of eleven general and flag officers to die in Vietnam - six in action, three in aircraft accidents, and two by illness.

General Tallman married Evelyn Phillips in 1949 and over time they had seven children together. One son, Joseph P. Tallman, graduated from the USMA on 6 June 1973. He was the First Captain of the Corps of Cadets during the 1972-1973 Academic year and graduated as a " Star Man " ( top 5% of his class ) as the 37th man in General Order of Merit ( GOM ) of 944 cadets ( Cullum # 31085 ).

Mrs. Tallman died at the age of 91 on 6 December 2018.

One of their daughters, Marty, is married to Major General James ' Spider ' Marks, who have three daughters, Bess Mitchell, Maeve Hayes, and Claire and two grandsons.

Brigadier General Richard Joseph Tallman and his wife are buried at the United States Military Academy Post Cemetery, West Point, New York, in Section XVIII, Row C, Site 21.


He was a recipient of the following

military decorations and service medals


Silver Star

Legion of Merit with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters

Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster

Army Good Conduct Medal

American Campaign Medal with Bronze Star

European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with two Bronze Stars

World War II Victory Medal

National Defense Service Medal with Bronze Star

Korean Service Medal with two Bronze Stars

Vietnam Service Medal with four Bronze Stars

United Nations Service Medal

Republic of Vietnam Campaign Service Medal

Republic of Korea War Service Medal

Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation


He was also entitled to wear the

Combat Infantryman Badge with 2 Stars ( Third Award )

and the

Parachutist Badge


THE PROUD YOUNG VALOR THAT ROSE ABOVE THE MORTAL,

AND THEN, AT LAST, WAS MORTAL AFTER ALL


DUTY - HONOR - COUNTRY


THE LONG GREY LINE


YOU ARE NOT FORGOTTEN

NOR SHALL YOU EVER BE


REMEMBRANCE

( END OF PART TWO )

BRIGADIER GENERAL

RICHARD JOSEPH TALLMAN

Richard Joseph Tallman was born on 28 March 1925 in Honesdale, Wayne County, PA.

He graduated from Honesdale High School in 1943.

Shortly after graduation from high school he was drafted into the U.S. Army and sent to the European Theater of Operations where he later fought in the Battle of the Bulge as a machine gunner earning a field commission as a Second Lieutenant.

In 1945 he received an appointment to the U.S. Military Academy, graduating with the Class of 1949, and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant of Infantry in the U.S. Army.

As a First Lieutenant, Tallman saw action during the Korean War in 1951-1952 with the 3rd Infantry Division, " The Rock of the Marne ".

He later served as a Tactical Officer and Military History Teacher and as Assistant Commandant of Cadets at West Point.

Tallman served three tours of duty in Vietnam during the war.

He served as Senior Advisor to the Army of the Republic of Vietnam's (ARVN) 22nd Infantry Division.

In 1968, then-Lieutenant Colonel Tallman commanded the 2nd Battalion, 501st Infantry Regiment.

On 18 June 1971, then-Colonel Tallman became Commander of the 3rd Brigade, 101st Airborne Division, " The Screaming Eagles ".

On 1 July 1972 he was promoted to Brigadier General and appointed as Deputy Commander of the Third [Military] Regional Assistance Command (TRAC) which was responsible for overseeing all U.S. military advisors throughout the 3rd Military Region.

On 9 July 1972, Brigadier General Tallman and his aides had just landed by helicopter at An L?c to observe ARVN counter-offensive operations at the conclusion of the Battle of An L?c when they were hit by North Vietnamese artillery fire. Three members of the group were killed instantly, while BG Tallman and two others were wounded. The wounded men were evacuated to the 3rd Field Hospital in Saigon where BG Tallman died of his wounds that day.

( END OF PART ONE )