Delbert C Totty

The database page for Delbert C Totty

6 Dec 1997 My dad is SFC Delbert Chan Totty. He was born in Wheeler, Texas on August 27, 1928. He was the youngest son of 9 children, 5 boys and 4 girls. My Dad's family began their migration to Kern County in California during the Dust Bowl, "Grapes of Wrath". In 1948, at the age of 19 my dad joined the Army. He served in Ft. Kobbe, in the Panama Canal Zone. While stationed in Panama he met and married my mother, Cynthia. My sisters, Della, Linda, and I were born in Panama. Shortly after my birth we moved to Ft. Riley, Kansas where my brother Del was born. We moved to Kern County, while my dad served a 13 month tour in Korea. When my dad completed his tour in Korea, we moved to Ft. Knox, Kentucky and then finally to Ft. Ord, my parent's favorite Army post, in beautiful Monterey, California. My youngest sister, Trudy, was born while we were living in Ft. Ord. Our next adventure lead us to Munich, Germany for 3 years. We left Munich in November 1965 and returned to Ft. Ord, a few months later my dad received his orders for Vietnam. My dad moved us off base to Napa, California, where my parents bought their first home. My dad bought the home with the dreams of retiring there some day. My dad arrived to Vietnam on August 8, 1966. His base camp was at Phouc Vinh in the III Corps, aka "The Iron Triangle". He was assigned the duty of Platoon Sergeant for B Company, 26th Infantry, 1st Division. He had the honor of serving under LTC Alexander Haig, Jr., and CPT George Joulwan. Both of these men later served as the NATO Supreme Allied Commander in Europe, General Haig from 1974-79 and General Joulwan from 1994-97. General Haig also served as Secretary of State after his retirement from the Army. My dad heard of my baby brother Robert's birth via the Red Cross. The young men in my dad's Platoon threw a party for him while they were in the boonies. Eleven short days later, my dad was dead. Mrs. Cynthia Totty holds her 2 week old son, Robert, and is surrounded by her five other children Della 14 (RT.), Linda 13 (LF)- Trudy 4, Delbert 10, and Patricia 12. She learned Sunday that her husband, an Army Platoon Master Sergeant, was killed in combat in Vietnam, MSGT Totty left for Vietnam 8 months ago. (Register Photo) Please visit my complete memorial on the Sons and Daughters in Touch site. HEADQUARTERS FIRST INFANTRY DIVISION APO San Francisco 96375 1 July 1966 GENERAL ORDERS AWARD OF THE SILVER STAR MEDAL 1. TC 320. The following AWARD is announced posthumously. TOTTY, DELBERT C. RA19305441 PLATOON SERGEANT E7, United States Army Company B, 1st Battalion, 26th Infantry Awarded: Silver Star Date action: 31 March 1967 Theater: Republic of Vietnam Reason: For gallantry in action against a hostile force: On this date, Sergeant Totty was serving as platoon sergeant during Operation Junction City. His company had assumed defensive positions on a landing zone near Quan Loi when they were suddenly subjected to an intense mortar barrage followed by a concentrated insurgent ground attack. The insurgents breached the lines of another company and threatened to overrun the command post. Sergeant Totty rallied his men and led them to the assistance of the embattled friendly element. They encountered the Viet Cong before they overran the command post and halted the insurgent advance with rifle fire and grenades. The Viet Cong brought up their support elements and began another assault of friendly positions. Undaunted, Sergeant Totty led his men into the center of the battle. After moments of violent hand to hand combat and effective fire into the insurgent ranks, the Viet Cong were forced to retreat. Sergeant Totty and his comrades regained the territory lost in the initial attack and with suppressive fire forced the Viet Cong back into a devastating air strike and mortar barrage. The desperate Viet Cong attempted to break the cordon that closed around them. Sergeant Totty again moved to the area of heaviest fighting to assist his embattled comrades. He continued to fight courageously and killed many Viet Cong before he was mortally wounded by an enemy grenade. Platoon Sergeant Totty's outstanding display of aggressiveness, devotion to duty, and personal bravery is in keeping with the finest traditions of the military service and reflects great credit upon himself, the 1st Infantry Division and the United States Army. Authority: By direction of the President under the provisions of the Act of Congress, 9 July 1918, and USARV.

A Note from The Virtual Wall B Company, 1/26th Infantry, lost five men in the attack: PSGT Delbert C. Totty, Wasco, CA SGT Charles G. Summers, Schenectady, NY SP4 Thomas M. Hannigan, Philadelphia, PA SP4 Patrick T. Mercier, St Paul, MN PFC Joe D. Stowers, Chapmanville, WV The Virtual Wall has no information regarding Platoon Sergeant Totty's decorations and awards other than those he received as a result of his service in Vietnam. The awards displayed at the top of this page are those we know he received.

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With all respect
Jim Schueckler, former CW2, US Army
Ken Davis, Commander, United States Navy (Ret)
Channing Prothro, former CAP Marine
Last updated 08/10/2009