Richard J. Tallman
Richard Joseph Tallman was a United States Army brigadier general who was killed by North Vietnamese artillery fire in 1972 during the Battle of An Lộc. He was the last U.S. Army general to die in the Vietnam War. He was on his third tour in South Vietnam.
Early life and education
He was born in Honesdale, Wayne County, Pennsylvania. Tallman married Evelyn Phillips in 1949. They had seven children. He graduated from Honesdale High School in 1943. After serving as an enlisted soldier in World War II he was admitted to West Point where he graduated in 1949 and was commissioned a second lieutenant in the regular Army.U.S. Army career
Shortly after high school graduation he was drafted into the Army and sent to the European theatre as an infantryman. He fought in the Battle of the Bulge as a machine gunner within the 42nd Infantry Division. During World War II he earned a battlefield commission from private first class to 2nd lieutenant.1st Lt Tallman saw action during the Korean War in 1951-2 with the 3rd Infantry Division.
He served as a tactical officer and military history teacher and as assistant commandant of cadets at West Point.
Vietnam War
Tallman served as senior advisor to the ARVN 22nd Infantry Division in 1964.Then-Lieutenant Colonel Tallman commanded the 2nd Battalion, 501st Infantry Regiment in 1967.
On 18 June 1971, then-Colonel Tallman became commander of the 3rd Brigade of the 101st Airborne Division.
In January 1972 he was appointed as chief of staff of Third Regional Assistance Command which was responsible for overseeing all U.S. military advisors throughout the 3rd Military Region. On 27 June he was appointed deputy commander of TRAC and was promoted to brigadier general on 28 June.