THE WALL OF FACES

I was a plane capt va-43 and took care of his plane he was a real good person and got along well with the guys I remember he left in 72 I lose touch after that I was sadden about him being shot down

In 1968 Lt Smokey Tolbert was my pilot in the Navy Blue Angels. One of the greatest men I ever had the privilege to serve with. Became a great friend while in the Blues. I still think of him often. We enjoyed some good times together. I hope to visit his burial site one day.

Thank you for your service to our country so long ago sir. I am heartened you returned home after the passage of so many years though I wish it had been under very different circumstances. May you rest in eternal peace.

Dear Cdr Clarence Tolbert, Thank you for your service as an Unrestricted Line Officer - Pilot on the USS MIDWAY. Glad you were identified in 1989. Welcome Home. Saying thank you isn't enough, but it is from the heart. Yesterday was the 58th anniversary of the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, and PURPLE HEART DAY. Time passes quickly. Please watch over America, it still needs your strength, courage, guidance and faithfulness, especially now. Rest in peace with the angels.

Clarence Orfield Tolbert

Clarence Tolbert graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, Class of 1962. He was killed in action over North Vietnam on November 6, 1972. He was listed as Missing in Action until being declared dead on March 23, 1978. During this time, he was promoted to Captain. His remains were returned on November 3, 1988, and he was buried at the Troy Cemetery in Johnston County, Oklahoma.

Silver Star
AWARDED FOR ACTIONS
DURING Vietnam War
Service: Navy
Rank: Lieutenant
Division: U.S.S. Hancock (CVA-19)
GENERAL ORDERS:

CITATION:
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Lieutenant Clarence Orfield Tolbert (NSN: 0-659511/1310), United States Navy, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action on 1 May 1966 as a pilot in Attack Squadron TWO HUNDRED SIXTEEN (VA-216), embarked in USS HANCOCK (CVA-19), during a strike against an enemy surface-to-air missile site in North Vietnam. Lieutenant Tolbert provided essential intelligence regarding the location of the missile site and its defenses, voluntarily piloted his aircraft as the strike leader's wingman and deliberately exposed himself to a missile firing in order to determine the exact location of the launching site. In the face of an intense barrage of medium antiaircraft fire, he made repeated bombing attacks on the site, inflicting heavy damage to several missile launchers. When his aircraft was severely crippled by two successive multiple-round antiaircraft bursts, Lieutenant Tolbert displayed unusual resourcefulness and exceptional airmanship in bringing the aircraft aboard ship to a safe landing using emergency manual flight controls. His courageous actions and outstanding performance in the face of intense enemy fire reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Naval Service.