Col. Bruce Wallace
US ARMY
WWII | Korea | Vietnam
Active from June 1943 Retired October 1978.
Sponsored by Dan and Kim Linebarger
Col. Wallace was born December 4, 1923, passed away December 13, 2006. His family told me he was twice recommended for the Medal of Honor but refused to be recognized and gave all his honor to his men. The attached service record of Col. Wallace was prepared by his family prior to his passing.
NARRATIVE
Colonel Bruce E. Wallace distinguished himself by exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding sustained service to the United States while serving in many demanding positions of great responsibility in a remarkable career spanning the years from June 1943 to October 1978.
The United States Army can historically, and rightfully, boast of a great many excellent professional soldiers. To measure this excellence is a comparative process by which each man must evaluate his own ideas of excellence. To Colonel Bruce E. Wallace must be accorded a sense of professionalism by which a standard already established must be raised to new heights.
For over 33 years of dedicated service, the adventurous spirit that is so much a part of this professional soldier has been important testimony to the exceptional nature of his career. A selfless man of indomitable character, Colonel Bruce E. Wallace is living evidence of the professional spirit that has always been the very heart of the United States Army.
This exceptional career began when Colonel Wallace enlisted in the US Army Air Corps in 1943 as a young teenager. He underwent training as an aerial gunner and was assigned to England as a tail gunner in B-17 bombers flying in the frigid skies over Germany for 46 combat missions with the 8th Air Force. During this service, Colonel Wallace's aircraft was shot down three times. Twice he managed to evade capture and immediately returned to England. On a third occasion of being gunned down, he was captured. While being transported to a POW camp the young airman succeeded in killing his guard and in escaping through the efforts of the underground and was returned to his airfield in England. Colonel Wallace was the only surviving B-17 crewmember from three complete B-17 air crews.
During his service as a young airman in World War II, Colonel Wallace was cited for his superlative airmanship, indomitable courage and total dedication. The professional spirit was born. For his service he received the Distinguished Flying Cross, six awards of the Air Medal and the Purple Heart.
When the war in Europe ended, Colonel Wallace was transferred to the Pacific Theater of Operations, assigned to a B-29 crew. While enroute to that assignment, the war ended.
Not content to simply go home after the war and "take it easy", Colonel Wallace entered Texas A&M University following his discharge in 1945. While studying at Texas A&M, he was the quarterback on the "Aggie" football team and developed the skills as a leader that were to serve him well during his many years of military service.
In 1949 he accepted a regular Army commission as a Second Lieutenant of Infantry. Assigned as a platoon leader with the 187th Airborne Infantry Regiment, 11th Airborne Division at Fort Campbell in Kentucky, he accompanied the 187th to Korea in 1950, remaining with the unit as an Infantry Platoon Leader until it was returned to Japan in 1951. During that combat tour he again exhibited those outstanding professional qualities he evidenced as a young airman in World War II. Now he carried the additional burdens of a combat Infantry Officer. His ability to lead troops under the extreme conditions of combat quickly became apparent. That leadership ability and his indomitable courage have been a hallmark throughout his long and distinguished career.
During the combat parachute assault of the 187th Regimental Combat Team into Suk-Chon, Colonel (then Lieutenant) Wallace's pathfinder team was scheduled to jump into the drop zone some 30 minutes ahead of the main body of assault troops. As their aircraft turned to make their jump pass over the drop zone, the large aircraft formation containing the main body of the 187th was observed immediately behind them. Consequently, they approached the drop zone at high speed in an attempt to hurry their arrival and to prepare the drop zone for those forces immediately behind them. As a result, both he, his platoon sergeant and several others suffered neck or back injuries from the extreme opening shock of their canopies deploying during the high-speed pass over the drop zone. His platoon sergeant was dead when he landed. Colonel Wallace landed and continued with his mission for almost six weeks before he was forced to seek medical help. It was subsequently determined that he had sustained a hairline fracture of the neck.
On May 25, 1951, near Yong-nae-re in Korea, then Lieutenant Wallace, acted on his own initiative and conducted as air reconnaissance in search of a suitable landing field in the forward combat area. This landing field was to be used to evacuate wounded and to establish air liaison between a spearhead task force of the 187th Regimental Combat Team and the Main body of the Regiment.
After locating a possible landing strip, the pilot circled the field and landed. As the small observation aircraft landed, a small enemy force at the far end of the field took the aircraft and to two men under fire with small arms and automatic weapons.
Lieutenant Wallace directed the pilot to take off and quickly engaged the enemy in a fire fight. He then single-handedly succeeded in killing five of the enemy force and capturing one. His actions cleared the vicinity of enemy troops and assured the security of the airstrip for operations. As a result of his cool courage and professional spirit, Lieutenant Wallace was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for valor.
It was while still serving in Korea that Colonel Wallace reflected upon service in the Army in a letter home..."War is a terrible thing", he wrote, "but there are things worse than war. A man who has nothing for which he is willing to fight; nothing he cares about more than his personal safety, is a miserable creature who has no chance of being free, unless made and kept so by the exertion and sacrifice of better men than himself"...further evidence of the unique character of service of this exceptional soldier.
Returning to Fort Campbell in 1951, Colonel Wallace continued service with the 11th Airborne Division. He again sought the difficult jobs and served in the Division Reconnaissance Company as platoon leader, executive office and company commander. This assignment included duty as an intelligence officer and an operations officer for the 503rd Airborne Infantry Regiment. Combined with his earlier combat airborne experience with the 187th, he gained detailed knowledge of airborne operations which was to later serve him well as an acknowledged expert in the development and research of aerial delivery systems.
Assigned to Europe in late 1953, Colonel Wallace was a company commander in the 10th Infantry Regiment of the 5th Division for two years. At the time he assumed command, the company suffered from poor training practices, low morale, and a readiness posture that was far below acceptable standards. The record reflects that Colonel Wallace generated a complete reversal of the unit's badly suffering readiness condition and through his highly professional efforts the unit achieved a peak level of performance which resulted in two consecutive annual Golden Rifle Awards. His outstanding reputation as a tactical unit commander resulted in his assignment as Operations Officer, VIIth Corps, for his last year in Europe before returning to the United States in 1956 to attend the Advanced Infantry Course at Fort Benning.
In April 1957 Colonel Wallace volunteered for the Ranger Course and upon graduation was assigned to the Ranger Department of the Infantry School.
As Chairman of the Training and Special Projects Committee and the Operations and Training Section, he was cited for "tireless energy, mature judgment and professional competence". It was through his personal example of leadership and devotion that the esprit de corps and efficiency of the Ranger Committee soared to new heights. His direct contributions improved the already high quality of instruction with his introduction of the "pugil stick", improvement of the confidence course, new demolition’s techniques, introduction of an advanced cliff assault problem, and the writing and narration as Principal Instructor of the Ranger Demonstration which was presented to the President of the United States and other notables. Again, there appears the exceptional challenge and Colonel Wallace excelled.
Upon graduation from the Command and General Staff College in 1960, Colonel Wallace was selected to be a staff officer in the Office of the Army Chief of Staff and was selected and screened for further duty in the high pressure job of being a principal action officer for the National Military Command Center. His responsibilities included operating the worldwide alert notification system and conducting twice-a-week briefings for the assembled Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Secretary of Defense. Of significance to the degree of his professionalism, Colonel Wallace was the only company grade officer within the National Military Command Center assigned such responsibilities.
Subsequent to his assignment with the Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, he was assigned to the MAAG for Ethiopia. He was designated the senior advisor to the 3rd Imperial Ethiopia Division. During this period of time, Ethiopia and Somalia were in open conflict over the disputed Ogaden region. The level of combat was reflected in the fact that 72% of the Ethiopian Army's combat battalions were committed to the 3rd Division during the period he served as senior advisor. This war continued unabated for his entire tour with thousands of casualties on both sides. A measure of the trust and professionalism afforded Colonel Wallace was the fact that for several months he was the only American National permitted access in this combat area consisting of some 350,000 square miles.
In 1966, Colonel Wallace completed two years of duty with the US Army Military Police School at Fort Gordon, Georgia. While there he was formally recognized for being directly responsible for instruction of maximum quality and exceptional student value. He was cited for exceptional professional knowledge unsurpassed by his contemporaries and service characterized by sound judgment and exhaustive attention to detail. This exceptional professional soldier turned instructor, earned for himself and his Combined Arms Committee the highest accolade and deepest respect from his subordinates and contemporaries alike. The annual award for Best Instructor, presented by Advanced Course students, was awarded to Colonel Wallace both years.
In December 1966, Colonel Wallace entered into his third war in service to his country. He was assigned to the 1st Infantry Division and became the Deputy Brigade Commander at Cu Chi. He served as the commander of the 2nd Battalion, 16th Infantry, 1st. Infantry Division and then transferred to the 9th Infantry Division as the G2 and G3. In July 1967 he became the commander of the 3rd Battalion of the 47th Infantry.
Within his first month, Colonel Wallace distinguished himself by heroic actions while on a search and destroy mission in the jungles of Vietnam. While directing operations from a light observation helicopter that was establishing targets for several gunships, Colonel Wallace spotted one of the assault aircraft which had crashed in a rice paddy. Without hesitation or regard for his personal safety, he instructed his pilot to land near the scene of the crash. Concerned for the safety of the crew members of the downed aircraft, Colonel Wallace rushed to the crash site and began to assist in freeing passengers and removing equipment. Despite the fact that the aircraft's fuel was spilling from the aircraft and could easily ignite, he remained at the damaged helicopter until all personnel and equipment had been safely evacuated. For this action Colonel Wallace was presented with the Soldier's Medal.
Twelve days later, this man was again challenged. On September 1, 1967, Colonel Wallace, as commander of the 3rd Battalion of the 47th Infantry, was aboard his command and control helicopter in the vicinity of a suspected enemy stronghold. Within minutes he observed two Viet Cong running from a hut and immediately took them under fire, killing one and critically wounding the other. In complete disregard for his own safety, he engaged another insurgent, killing him also with his personal weapon. At this time, the helicopter was taken under fire by six enemy soldiers who ran form the hut. Colonel Wallace was hit in the leg but steadfastly refused to leave the scene and within the next two hours killed 3 more enemy soldiers. Suspecting an impending ambush nearby and ignoring his painful wound, he courageously hovered above in order to alert a friendly ground unit that was approaching the ambush site. His intrepid actions prevented friendly casualties and resulted in seven Viet Cong deaths and three weapons captured. Again the thread that is his continuity of service appears...he again placed himself "in harm's way" in his service to this nation. Colonel Wallace was constantly before the enemy...constantly challenging that enemy with his professional skills to get the job done. For his courage...for meeting the challenge, Colonel Wallace was awarded the Silver Star.
From February 1968 until September 1970, Colonel Wallace served as Operations and Plans Officer on the staff of the Commander, Joint Unconventional Warfare Task Force Atlantic at Fort Bragg. Cited for outstanding professional competence, he significantly contributed to the mission of the Atlantic Command. His task force planning for contingencies and general war operation plans were viewed as examples of professionalism. His SOP's and plans were cited as being in large measure responsible for the success of the Atlantic Command's Unconventional Warfare mission.
Colonel Wallace again returned to Vietnam, assigned as the Senior Advisor to the Vietnamese 25th Infantry Division and concurrently as the commander of the 25th Division Combat Assistance Team.
He developed an outstanding and unprecedented level of rapport and unusually close personal and professional relationship with the Commanding General of the 25th ARVN Division. Through his extensive military knowledge, understanding and patience, he was able to exert a profound and beneficial influence upon the operational effectiveness of that Division.
He was credited with brilliant mental conception, outstanding leadership and managerial skill and highly polished advisory skills and techniques. The "unmatched excellence" of his team was directly attributable to the dynamic, comprehensive and profound sense of duty, military acumen and extraordinary personal leadership exhibited by Colonel Wallace.
During this latest combat tour, Colonel Wallace was shot down by an SA-7 while aboard a command and control helicopter during the siege at An Loc. He and his Vietnamese counterpart and two other Vietnamese officers evaded capture for over a week, during which time there were frequent encounters with enemy troops resulting in small fire fights.
It was while serving in this advisory capacity that this professional soldier was again challenged... and again rose to the occasion. While working closely with the Commanding General of the 25th ARVN Division, he placed himself before the enemy time and again, and time after time he emerged as the victor. During this 12-month period of service as Senior Advisor, Colonel Wallace received the Legion of Merit, another Silver Star, another Bronze Star for valor, the Vietnamese Gallantry Cross with Silver Star, the Vietnamese Armed Forces Service Honor Medal and the Vietnamese Staff Service Medal.
When Colonel Wallace assumed the duties of Chief of the Pacification Operations Branch of the Organization of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in September 1972, the United States was undergoing the critical phaseout of its operations in Vietnam. His principal subordinate, who offered the only continuity of this important branch, was almost immediately transferred. It was only through the technical competence and experience of Colonel Wallace that this branch of the Organization of the Joint Chiefs of Staff could maintain its expertise. He played the key role in developing this nation's military philosophy on the critical action of pacification. His original thinking was always tempered with the years of practical experience offered in service throughout his career. His efforts gained such recognition that other governmental agencies frequently came to him for opinion, judgment and recommendation. This professional soldier with the impeccable credentials gained from the fields of combat in three wars, was now offering unshakable credibility to the highest levels of military service.
Continuing his duty with the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Colonel Wallace was pressed into service as the Deputy Director for Operations of Counterinsurgency and Special Activities. Again his professionalism and the compelling need to meet the challenge served his nation with distinguished outstanding service. His judgment and skills in fitting matters of foreign internal defense into their proper role in US national security policy and programs, resulted in his extended special assignment heading an ad hoc Middle East planning group directly responsive to the Secretary of Defense and the National Security Council. For his efforts he was personally lauded by the President of the United States, and at the conclusion of his tour with the Joint Chiefs of Staff was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal.
Since May 1974, Colonel Wallace has brought his extraordinary experience and professional knowledge to bear in his duties as President of the Airborne and Communications-Electronics Board, a Training and Doctrine Command test activity which in July 1978 was redesignated the Airborne Board. In this capacity he was continued to exhibit virtually all the superb professional qualities which have been evidenced throughout his long and distinguished career--leadership, intelligence, courage, integrity and foresight--and the ability to overcome every challenge placed before him.
Shortly after Colonel Wallace assumed his duties, Department of the Army directed that the Board be transferred from the Test and Evaluation Command to the Training and Doctrine Command, an action which resulted in significant changes in mission requirements and a considerable loss of assigned personnel. The Board had previously been tasked with service testing of communications-electronics and airborne systems and equipment using primarily Board test personnel with limited material and personnel support requirements. Under Training and Doctrine Command, developmental testing was introduced, necessitating for greater participation by user units and generating expansive coordination effort on the part of the Board. Through his outstanding tact and personal magnetism, Colonel Wallace established superb working relationships with US Air Force support units, XVIII Airborne Corps, and all subordinate units and activities, thereby insuring complete and timely support for testing. While in theory the new test method was to reduce personnel workload within the Board, it had exactly the opposite effect. Only through Colonel Wallace's exceptional managerial and organizational abilities was the Board capable of accomplishing all tests with its reduced personnel assets.
Recognizing the requirement to elevate the quality of testing above the plane of subjective judgment, Colonel Wallace has vastly improved the instrumentation of all tests and has established a progressive long-range instrumentation program which will have a significant impact on the degree of accuracy of test results over the next decade. Similarly, his close personal supervision of increased Reliability, Availability and Maintainability (RAM) testing coupled with his thorough assessments of the logistics supportability of developmental airborne and communications-electronics items have enabled the combat developments community to realistically evaluate both the cost and mission effectiveness of proposed new systems to be used by combat troops. His every effort has been directed toward providing the Army with equipment and systems that are proven reliable, safe and effective and that meet the ever changing requirements of the modern day battlefield. To that end he has been instrumental in the development of a Concept Evaluation Plan for testing the Individual Tactical Air Vehicle (ITAV), a unique one man helicopter which holds the potential to revolutionize methods of infiltration and aerial reconnaissance. In a significant number of aircraft evaluations not directly airborne related, Colonel Wallace, through his perceptiveness and foresight, has pressed for the Airborne Board's participation in testing to insure that aerial delivery methods are given proper consideration in the overall evaluation. Most notable among these are the YC-141B Stretch and Advanced Medium STOL Transport test being conducted by the Air Force and the Army's UH-60A Black Hawk.
Characteristic of the man is his propensity to set the example--to demand of this subordinates only that which he himself has accomplished. To that end he has been the leader--the first to try a new parachute system; the first to jump an aircraft never before jumped; the first to meet each challenge in testing regardless of risks or hazards involved. In setting the highest of standards, he has instilled in each subordinate a total sense of confidence and pride in accomplishment.
There is a single shining thread of continuity which glimmers throughout the long career of this exceptional soldier. This characteristic of service to his nation is his constant willingness to accept the most difficult of challenges.
Colonel Wallace's service in three wars offered repeated demonstrations of the exceptional qualities of this professional soldier. His courage was both professional and personal.
He manifested professional courage to make decisions and to take actions that had turned away men of weaker will.
He demonstrated his personal courage by repeatedly offering his own safety to the violence of battle in order to defeat the enemy immediately before him.
He demonstrated the strength of character which made him a soldier of invaluable worth to each professional challenge.
He is a leader from which lessor men drew strength, courage and resolve.
He is a man sensitive to the needs of others and dedicated to the service of an idea greater than his own experience.
The limits of his dedication, of his professionalism, have not yet been reached. He has met every challenge offered and has overcome each of them.
While such dedication may not be without precedent in the experience of the United States Army, it is indeed truly exceptional.
Pathfinder...Gliderman...Master Parachutist...Ranger...Leader...a combatant in three wars...never the easy means by which to satisfy the requirements of a lifetime as a soldier. He is truly a PROFESSIONAL SOLDIER. The evidence of the outstanding character of Colonel Bruce E. Wallace's service clearly demonstrates the demand to "take the high road"...to be the best you can be...to test yourself among the very best...and only then, at the end of more than 33 years of outstanding service as a professional soldier, to say, "Sir...mission accomplished."
SERVICE RECORD
of Colonel Bruce E. Wallace
(June 1943 - October 1978)
WORLD WAR II (Enlisted Service)
June 1943 - October 1945
Aerial Gunner with 8th Air Corps
46 Combat Missions
COMMISSIONED OFFICER
Served on Active Duty from March 1949 - October 1978
KOREAN CONFLICT
July 1950 - October 1951
Made both Combat Jumps (only 2 combat jumps of the Korean Conflict).
VIETNAMESE WAR
November 1966 - September 1967
(Medical Evacuation due to wounds)
September 1971 - August 1972
MEDALS
Distinguished Service Medal Silver Star with Clusters Legion of Merit
Distinguished Flying Cross Soldier's Medal Bronze Star w/V and Clusters
Meritorious Service Medal Good Conduct Medal Air Medal w/V and Clusters
Joint Service Commendation Purple Hear W/Clusters Vietnam Service Medal
French Croix de Guerre w/Palm United Nations Service Medal Korean Service Medal
National Defense Service Medal Army of Occupation Medal World War II Victory Medal
European Campaign Medal American Campaign Medal Vietnamese Campaign Ribbon
Army Commendation w/V and Clusters
Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry w/Palms
Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry w/Star
Vietnamese Staff Service Medal
Vietnamese Armed Forces Honor Medal
BADGES
Combat Infantryman's Badge with Star Master Parachute Badge with Stars
( over 1,000 Jumps )
Joint Chief's of Staff Badge Aerial Gunner Wings
Glider Badge
ODE TO A RETIRING AIRMAN
They say he's grown too old to ride the skies,
And hold the stick and throttles of a jet.
Although this heart is young, his aging eyes,
Can't cope with rate of closure's deadly threat.
So now his well worn helmet's laid aside,
Along with memories of those many hours,
Of wearing silver wings with special pride,
And flying through the sky's white cloudy towers.
He'll ne'er again fly through flak's deadly hail,
To sweat out bomb runs over alien soil;
Or try to shake the fighters off his tail,
While feathering an engine spewing oil.
He's flown the airways for a million miles,
And covered almost all the global skies.
His nerve has brought him through a hundred trials,
In planes that were of every type and size.
He's left his mark on history's written page,
Along with other heroes of his day.
His service record sets the proper stage,
For those who seek to follow in his way.
So like the war scarred, grizzled knight of old,
He passes on to those who take his place,
A stick or wheel instead of sword to hold,
And future's thrilling quest of outer space.
One day he'll make that final power off glide,
To land upon Valhalla's golden strip,
Where comrades wait to toast with quiet pride,
The airman who has flown his final trip.
C.L. "Kit" Carson
Colonel, USAF (Ret)