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Service Details |
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Last Rank
Commander
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Last Primary NEC
131X-Unrestricted Line Officer - Pilot
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Last Rating/NEC Group
Line Officer
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Primary Unit
1972-1972, 131X, VA-56
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Service Years
1962 - 1972
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Personal Details
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Home State
Oklahoma | |
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Year of Birth
1939 |
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This Military Service Page was created/owned by
Sheila Rae Myers, HM3
to remember
Tolbert, Clarence Orfield, CDR.
If you knew or served with this Sailor and have additional information or photos to support this Page, please leave a message for the Page Administrator(s) HERE.
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Casualty Info
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Home Town
Tishomingo, OK |
Last Address
Tishomingo, OK
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Casualty Date
Nov 06, 1972 |
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Cause
Hostile, Died while Missing |
Reason
Air Loss, Crash - Land |
Location
Vietnam, North (Vietnam) |
Conflict
Vietnam War |
Location of Interment
Troy Cemetery - Troy, Oklahoma |
Wall/Plot Coordinates
01W 089 |
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Last Known Activity
Note: Promoted while in MIA status to Commander
CASUALTY DATA
Start Tour: Not Recorded
Incident Date: 11/06/1972
Casualty Date: 03/23/1978
TOLBERT, CLARENCE ORFIELD Remains Returned November 3, 1988
Commander Clarence O. Tolbert was a pilot assigned to Attack Squadron 56 onboard the aircraft carrier USS MIDWAY. On November 6, 1972, Tolbert launched in his A7B "Corsair" in a flight of two on a reconnaissance mission into Nghe An Province, North Vietnam. The aircraft was hit by anti-aircraft fire in the starboard wing during the mission. Commander Tolbert immediately turned the aircraft towards the coast (the favored evasion route), just as it caught fire. The fire went out within seconds but the aircraft continued to stream fuel. Within 1 1/2 miles from the coast the flight controls apparently froze and the aircraft impacted the ground in a flat spin. Tolbert's wingman observed the aircraft from the time it was hit until impact with the ground and observed no ejection or parachute. No radio communication was established during the whole episode. An active search and rescue effort was discontinued due to lack of visual or voice contact. An article appeared in the November 15, 1972 edition of Nhan Dan newspaper in Hanoi which stated that the Vietnamese forces had shot down a U.S. aircraft on that date and that the pilot ejected but the parachute did not open.
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Comments/Citation
Distinguished Flying Cross
Awarded for actions during the Vietnam War
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Lieutenant Clarence Orfield Tolbert (NSN: 0-659511/1310), United States Navy, for heroism and extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight on 7 July 1966 as a pilot in Attack Squadron TWO HUNDRED SIXTEEN (VA-216), embarked in U.S.S. HANCOCK (CVA-19). While flying as wingman in the last division of aircraft, Lieutenant Tolbert demonstrated outstanding courage and determination in the face of heavy enemy opposition during a coordinated attack against the heavily-defended POL facility at Haiphong, North Vietnam. He executed a well-coordinated and perfectly timed attack through an intense barrage of enemy anti-aircraft fire, scoring several direct hits. His exceptional bombing accuracy under the most difficult and hazardous conditions was responsible for the destruction of a large pump house and extensive damage to several oil storage tanks, thus contributing significantly to the overall extraordinary success of this mission. Lieutenant Tolbert's heroic actions and exceptional airmanship were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
Action Date: July 7, 1966
Service: Navy
Rank: Lieutenant
Company: Attack Squadron 216
Division: U.S.S. Hancock (CVA-19)
Silver Star
Awarded for actions during the Vietnam War
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Lieutenant Clarence Orfield Tolbert (NSN: 0-659511/1310), United States Navy, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action on 1 May 1966 as a pilot in Attack Squadron TWO HUNDRED SIXTEEN (VA-216), embarked in USS HANCOCK (CVA-19), during a strike against an enemy surface-to-air missile site in North Vietnam. Lieutenant Tolbert provided essential intelligence regarding the location of the missile site and its defenses, voluntarily piloted his aircraft as the strike leader's wingman and deliberately exposed himself to a missile firing in order to determine the exact location of the launching site. In the face of an intense barrage of medium antiaircraft fire, he made repeated bombing attacks on the site, inflicting heavy damage to several missile launchers. When his aircraft was severely crippled by two successive multiple-round antiaircraft bursts, Lieutenant Tolbert displayed unusual resourcefulness and exceptional airmanship in bringing the aircraft aboard ship to a safe landing using emergency manual flight controls. His courageous actions and outstanding performance in the face of intense enemy fire reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Naval Service.
Action Date: May 1, 1966
Service: Navy
Rank: Lieutenant
Company: Attack Squadron 216 (VA-216)
Division: U.S.S. Hancock (CVA-19)
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Tributes from Members
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Graduate, USNA, Class of 1962 posted by  Myers, Sheila Rae (TWS Memorial Team), HM3  90
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To: LCDR posted by Myers, Sheila Rae (TWS Memorial Team), HM3 90
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I remember everyone called him "Smoke" posted by Myers, Sheila Rae (TWS Memorial Team), HM3 90
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Friends of Smokey posted by Myers, Sheila Rae (TWS Memorial Team), HM3 90
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Home Town Tribute posted by Burgdorf, Tommy (Birddog, TWS Memorial "A" Team), FC2 439
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Murray State College posted by Burgdorf, Tommy (Birddog, TWS Memorial "A" Team), FC2 439
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Blue Angles Association posted by Burgdorf, Tommy (Birddog, TWS Memorial "A" Team), FC2 439
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America's Gift posted by Burgdorf, Tommy (Birddog, TWS Memorial "A" Team), FC2 439
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Project White Horse posted by Burgdorf, Tommy (Birddog, TWS Memorial "A" Team), FC2 439
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Veteran Tributes posted by Burgdorf, Tommy (Birddog, TWS Memorial "A" Team), FC2 439
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1962-1962, 110X, USS Arneb (LKA-56)
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1962-1964, 131X, Naval Aviation Schools Command (Staff)
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1964-1964, 131X, VA-125 Rough Riders
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1964-1966, 131X, USS Hancock (CV/CVA-19)
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1964-1967, 131X, VA-216 Black Diamonds
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1967-1968, 131X, VA-122 Flying Eagles
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1968-1968, 131X, Blue Angels, Naval Flight Demonstration Squadron (NFDS)
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1969-1969, 131X, Naval Weapons Evaluation Facility (NWEF) Albuquerque
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1969-1970, 131X, VF-202 Superheats
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1970-1972, 131X, VA-43
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1972-1972, 131X, VF-174 Hellrazors
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1972-1972, 131X, USS Midway (CVA-41)
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1972-1972, 131X, VA-56
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From the Lucky Bag - USNA yearbook
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Jan 01, 1970, Promoted to Lieutenant Commander
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Sep 01, 1977, Promoted to Commander
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Nov 03, 1988, Remains repatriated
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Feb 24, 1989, Remains of MIAs Identified1
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Jan 03, 2013, General Photos3
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