USMA Class of 1946. Cullum No. 16091.
COL Robert B. Tully died February 16, 2017. He returns to his home town and is buried at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery after a long military career that included the 1965 rescue of a surrounded platoon in the Army's first major battle of the Vietnam War.
He served in Vietnam during the Battle of la Drang, the first major clash for the U.S. ground forces during the war. He was instrumental in rescuing the "Lost Platoon" during that clash. It was the fight that family and friend say he rarely discussed, but he was anything but subdued, they said.
"He was a magnet for people," said his nephew, a retired Lt. General of San Antonio, a former commander of the 5th U.S. Army at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston. "People just wanted to get close to him and hear his jokes and listen to his stories."
According to journalist and author Joseph Galloway "He was soft-spoken, stuttered a bit, but was area soldier's soldier all the way. He was always on top of things to ensure that his trooper had the best chance of surviving to go home."
"COL Tully's men looked up to him because he would never order them to do something he was not willing to do himself, because he always saw to their needs ahead of his own," Galloway said.
The "Lost Platoon" became separated from the rest of the battalion at the start of the battle of La Drang on November 4, 1965. The smaller unit encountered a full North Vietnamese Army battalion and was almost overcome. Two companies tried to reach them but became locked in a pitched battle of their own. Arriving on foot rather than a helicopter, COL Tully and his battalion were the first to reach the men and led the rescue of the platoon.
COL Tully served two tours in Vietnam. His father, who is also buried at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery, was a one-star general.
His nephew said "He was a hero to me all of my life."
Rest in peace, sir.
*Obituary courtesy of Find A Grave contributor LKat (#47116782)*
USMA Class of 1946. Cullum No. 16091.
COL Robert B. Tully died February 16, 2017. He returns to his home town and is buried at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery after a long military career that included the 1965 rescue of a surrounded platoon in the Army's first major battle of the Vietnam War.
He served in Vietnam during the Battle of la Drang, the first major clash for the U.S. ground forces during the war. He was instrumental in rescuing the "Lost Platoon" during that clash. It was the fight that family and friend say he rarely discussed, but he was anything but subdued, they said.
"He was a magnet for people," said his nephew, a retired Lt. General of San Antonio, a former commander of the 5th U.S. Army at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston. "People just wanted to get close to him and hear his jokes and listen to his stories."
According to journalist and author Joseph Galloway "He was soft-spoken, stuttered a bit, but was area soldier's soldier all the way. He was always on top of things to ensure that his trooper had the best chance of surviving to go home."
"COL Tully's men looked up to him because he would never order them to do something he was not willing to do himself, because he always saw to their needs ahead of his own," Galloway said.
The "Lost Platoon" became separated from the rest of the battalion at the start of the battle of La Drang on November 4, 1965. The smaller unit encountered a full North Vietnamese Army battalion and was almost overcome. Two companies tried to reach them but became locked in a pitched battle of their own. Arriving on foot rather than a helicopter, COL Tully and his battalion were the first to reach the men and led the rescue of the platoon.
COL Tully served two tours in Vietnam. His father, who is also buried at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery, was a one-star general.
His nephew said "He was a hero to me all of my life."
Rest in peace, sir.
*Obituary courtesy of Find A Grave contributor LKat (#47116782)*
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