In Memory of 1st Lt. Bob Wallace........ 1st Platoon Leader
A "Currahee Brother" who passed away in February of 2024. We invite Currahee Brothers that knew him well to share some comments.
"Thank you brother for a job well done". Until we meet again my friend ..... "Currahee"......"Stands Alone"
1st Lt. Bob Wallace .. Age: 81 ___________________________________ Born: 1943 in Plattsburg New York___________ ___________________ Died: February 16th, 2024 in Mulmur, Ontario, Canada
A CHARLIE COMPANY WARRIOR CROSSES OVER
It is with great sadness that I received the news that former 1st Lt. Bob Wallace passed away after a recent illness on February 16, 2024. Bob was 81 years of age when he crossed over and was a New York native having been born and raised in Plattsburg, New York. Bob attended and graduated from the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, Michigan. After graduation from the University of Michigan, Bob joined the Peace Corp. After serving in the Peace Corp for a couple of years, he chose to enter the Army on the College Op program, which provided that after he completed Basic and AIT training, he could attend Infantry Officer Candidate School at Fort Benning, Georgia.
Upon graduating from Infantry OCS as a second lieutenant, Bob pulled a short tour in the States before receiving orders for Vietnam. He was then assigned, in early September of 1969, to the 2nd Battalion of the 506th Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division in Vietnam as an infantry platoon leader, of the first platoon of Charlie Company. Bob served as an infantry platoon leader first under Captain Glynn Hale for about 4 months and then under Captain Isabellino Vazquez for about 4 months, before leaving the field to serve in the Third Brigade TOC for the remainder of his tour. Bob returned to the States to serve as a training officer at Fort Polk, Louisiana until his separation from the Army in early 1971.
After Bob separated from the Army, he returned to live in Plattsburg, New York. He went to work for the US Customs Service where he worked for many years. While working for the US Custom Service, he met his future wife and soulmate Jacqueline “Jackie”. After a 5 year courtship, Bob and Jackie married in 1991 and enjoyed 33 years of marital bliss before his death. At some point after their marriage they moved to Mulmur, Ontario, Canada, where he and Jackie lived for the remainder of his life. Bob was devoted to Jackie, and she to him. They both enjoyed traveling over their years together. Bob and Jackie both looked forward to attending Ripcord reunions and visiting with his first platoon soldiers.
Bob had a great sense of humor, but at the same time he was an excellent rifle platoon leader. He was a special leader who was devoted to caring for his soldiers. He was well versed in infantry operations as, like myself, we were both mentored by the same two great company commanders. He performed the missions given to him and was greatly admired and respected by the many soldiers that he commanded and served with during his tour.
Bob was still with the Company during the taking and building of Firebase Ripcord. Bob, myself and Chuck Hawkins divided the Ripcord hill into three platoon sectors after taking the hill. We began constructing the fighting positions on Ripcord, and when Captain Vazquez returned from R & R, we all worked like dogs to get the wire laid properly and the fields of fire broadened to meet the standards required by Captain Vazquez. This was backbreaking work that went on from daylight to dark each day. Bob would tell me that it was a good thing that I was a lieutenant with him on Ripcord, as it was I who received most of the ass chewings from Captain Vazquez instead of him.
Bob was always a pleasure to be around. He and I spent a good deal of our free time in Vietnam harassing Lt. Charlie Lieb, the other Charlie Company Lieutenant, who is best described as the “Lost Warrior”. I have always respected and admired Bob Wallace for his unique leadership skills in commanding his platoon. It was a special honor for me to serve with such a great soldier and magnificent human being.
1st Lt. Jim Campbell
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