Two of our own members spoke to the club Wednesday April 1 about their respective fathers' military service. It was a poignant talk from both men that gave us some background about who our friends are and where they came from.
4. Colonel James C. Tarkenton, Jr.
First Lieutenant James C. Tarkenton III
Service Above Self
WWII, Korea, Vietnam
5. Lt. Col. James C. Tarkenton, Jr.
WW II: 1944-45
– 13th Infantry Rgt, 8th Infantry Division
– Landed on Omaha Beach, Normandy
– N. France > Luxembourg > Germany
– Liberated Wobbelin concentration camp
(2,500 prisoners)
– In ten months of combat:
• 13,293 enemy killed or wounded
• 316,187 enemy taken prisoner
– Awarded Silver Star, Purple Heart
6. Lt. Col. James C. Tarkenton, Jr.
KOREAN WAR: 1950-51
• Stationed in Tokyo, Japan
• 1950 - Chinese invade S. Korea
• Assembled intelligence staff in
24 hrs; flew to S. Korea
• 8th Army G-2 for next 18 mo.
• Awarded Distinguished Service
Medal and letter of
commendation from the CIA
7. 1st Lt. James C. Tarkenton III
VIETNAM: 1967
• Volunteered
• A Co., 22nd Inf Rgt, 4th Inf Div
• Company commander
• KIA - March 19, 1967
• In Vietnam only six weeks
• Age 24 years
The Citadel - Class of ‘64