Robert Donald Taplett (1918 - 2004)

Born 10 Dec 1918 in Tyndall, Bon Homme County, South Dakota, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Patricia Marie (Kingston) Taplett — married 15 Oct 1946 in Woodside, San Mateo, California, United States

Died 17 Dec 2004 at age 86 in Falls Church, Falls Church, Virginia, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Kay Knight [send private message]

Biography

Early Life

Robert Donald Taplett was born 10 Dec 1918 in Tyndall, Bon Homme County, South Dakota.^[1] He was the son of John Taplet and Barbara Oliva.^[2]

In 1920 he was living in Bon Homme, South Dakota.^[3] The household included Joe J. Taplett 31, wife Barbara R Taplett 31, daughter Evelyn M Taplett 10, son John K Taplett 10, son Robert D Taplett 1, and mother-in-law Anna Olivia. Joe was proprietor of a pool hall.

In 1930 he was living in Tyndall, Bon Homme, South Dakota.^[4] The household included John J Taplet (misindexed as Maplet) 41, wife Barbara R Taplet 41, son John H Taplet 17, son Robert D Taplet 11, son Howard F Taplet 8 and daughter Marjorie A Taplet 6. John was a salesman. Barbara was a clerk in a general store.

In 1935 in was living in Tyndall ward 3, Bon Homme, South Dakota.^[5] He was age 16, attending school and was Catholic.

In 1940 he was living in Tyndall, Bon Homme, South Dakota.^[6] The household included John J Taplett 51, wife Barbara Taplett 52, daughter Evelyn Taplett 30, son Robert Taplett 31, son Howard Taplett 18, and daughter Marjorie Taplett 16. John was a salesman of specialty products. Evelyn was single and was a manager for Christian associated work. Robert, Howard and Marjorie attended school.

Military Career

Colonel Robert Taplett served in the United States Marine Corps in the Korean War
Service started: 28 Jun 1940
Unit(s): 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Division
Service ended: 31 Jul 1960

He enlisted in the US Marine Corps on 28 Jun 1940.^[7]

In Aug 1940 he was a Second Lieutenant stationed at the Marine Barracks, Navy Yard, League Island, Pennsylvania.^[8] On 8 Dec 1941 he was a Second Lieutenant aboard the U.S.S. Salt Lake City.^[9]

By Jul 1943 he was a Major stationed at the U.S.S Salt Lake City, C/O Fleet Post Office, San Francisco, California and in April 1944 he was stationed at Company "C" Infantry Battalion, Training Center, Training Command Camp Elliott, 44, California.^[8]

In 1945 he was enumerated in the census for Tyndall Ward 1, Bon Homme, South Dakota.^[10] He was single, a graduate of the University of South Dakota and a Major in the US Marine Corps.

Robert Taplett and Patricia Marie Kingston were married 15 Oct 1946 in Woodside, California.^[11]

In July 1947 he was executive officer and acting commanding officer stationed at the Marine Barracks, Naval Air Station, Almeda, California. In Jul 1950 he was a Lieutenant Colonel at H and So, 3Rdbn, 5Thmar, 1Stprovmarbrig (Reinf), Fmf, Pearl. In Jan 1958 he was a Colonel stationed at Okinawa.^[8]

During the Korean War Robert Taplett commanded the 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Division during the Battle of Chosin Reservoir. He suffered from severe frostbite, which caused him difficulty walking for the remainder of his life. His awards included:^[12][13]

• Silver Star 27 Oct 1950
• Navy Cross 5 Nov 1951
• Gold Star in lieu of second Silver Star
• Legion of Merit 16 Jun 1951

After the Korean War, he lectured on military tactics, and was academic director of the Basic School at Quantico. Later he was at Marine Corps Headquarters and then trained troups at Okinawa and the Philippines.^[12]

He retired from the service on 31 Jul 1960.^[7]

In Retirement

He published a memoir of the Korean War, Dark Horse Six, named for his battalion callsign.^[14][15]

He died 17 Dec 2004 in Fairfax, Virginia.^{[16][17][2][18]}

He is buried in Section 66 Site 1417 at Arlington National Cemetery.^[12][19]

Sources

1. ↑ "South Dakota, Department of Health, Index to Births 1843-1914 and Marriages 1950-2016," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QKDD-WG6M : 11 February 2018), * Taplett, 08 Aug 1912; citing Birth, Bon Homme, South Dakota, United States, South Dakota Department of Health, Pierre.
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015. Original data: Social Security Applications and Claims, 1936-2007. Robert Donald Taplett [Robert D Taplett] Male White Birth: 10 Dec 1918 Tyndall Bon, South Dakota Death: 17 Dec 2004 Father: John J Taplett Mother: Barbara R Oliva
3. ↑ "United States Census, 1920," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M6NK-GBF : accessed 24 May 2018), Robert D Taplett in household of Joe J. Taplett, Tyndall, Bon Homme, South Dakota, United States; citing ED 20, sheet 1A, line 18, family 4, NARA microfilm publication T625 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1992), roll 1714; FHL microfilm 1,821,714.
4. ↑ "United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XQJ5-717 : accessed 24 May 2018), Robert D Maplet in household of John J Maplet, Tyndall, Bon Homme, South Dakota, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 20, sheet 9A, line 11, family 208, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 2217; FHL microfilm 2,341,951.
5. ↑ "South Dakota State Census, 1935," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MV4P-NWF : 29 July 2017), Robert Taplett, Tyndall ward 3, Bon Homme, South Dakota; citing p. 720, State Historical Society, Pierre; FHL microfilm 2,370,703.
6. ↑ "United States Census, 1940," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V19C-N58 : accessed 24 May 2018), Robert Taplett in household of John J Taplett, Tyndall City, Tyndall, Bon Homme, South Dakota, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 5-20, sheet 1A, line 15, family 6, Sixteenth Census of the United States, 1940, NARA digital publication T627. Records of the Bureau of the Census, 1790 - 2007, RG 29. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2012, roll 3848.
7. ↑ ^{7.0 7.1} Beneficiary Identification Records Locator Subsystem (BIRLS) Death File. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Robert D Taplett Ancestry Record 2441 #11663118 Ancestry.com. U.S., Department of Veterans Affairs BIRLS Death File, 1850-2010 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011.
8. ↑ ^{8.0 8.1 8.2} U.S. Marine Corps Muster Rolls, 1798-1958 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2007. Original data: Muster Rolls of the U.S. Marine Corps, 1798-1892. Microfilm Publication T1118, 123 rolls. ARC ID: 922159. Records of the U.S. Marine Corps, Record Group 127; National Archives in Washington, D.C. U.S. Marine Corps Muster Rolls, 1893-1958. Microfilm Publication T977, 460 rolls. ARC ID: 922159. Records of the U.S. Marine Corps, Record Group 127; National Archives in Washington, D.C.
9. ↑ U.S. World War II Navy Muster Rolls, 1938-1949 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2011. Original data: Muster Rolls of U.S. Navy Ships, Stations, and Other Naval Activities, 01/01/1939-01/01/1949; A-1 Entry 135, 10230 rolls, ARC ID: 594996. Records of the Bureau of Naval Personnel, Record Group Number 24. National Archives at College Park, College Park, MD. National Archives at College Park; College Park, Maryland, United States; Muster Rolls of U.S. Navy Ships, Stations, and Other Naval Activities, 01/01/1939 - 01/01/1949; Record Group: 24, Records of the Bureau of Naval Personnel, 1798 - 2007; Series ARC ID: 594996; Series MLR Number: A1 135
10. ↑ "South Dakota State Census, 1945," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6P4L-GMM : 31 July 2017), Robert D Taplett, Tyndall Ward 1, Bon Homme, South Dakota; citing p. 34, State Historical Society, Pierre; FHL microfilm 2,372,141.
11. ↑ Publication Date: 23/ Oct/ 1946; Publication Place: Sioux Falls, South Dakota, USA; URL: https://www.newspapers.com/image/228978075/?article=5503570e-b93e-4826-a3b1-99dd1d7a24e6&focus=0.39985093,0.0793707,0.518103,0.15602143&xid=3398. Name: Maj Robert Taplett Gender: Male Residence Date: Abt 1946 Residence Place: 800 Bash St. , San Francisco Residence Place 2: L'smc Marriage Date: 15 Oct 1946 Marriage Place: Woodslde . Calif. Father: John J. Taplett Mother: Taplett Spouse: Marie Kingston. Ancestry Record 62116 #63899014 Ancestry.com. U.S., Newspapers.com Marriage Index, 1800s-1999 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2020.
12. ↑ ^{12.0 12.1 12.2} Find A Grave, database and images ( : accessed 24 May 2018), memorial page for Col Robert Donald Taplett (10 Dec 1918–17 Dec 2004), Find A Grave: Memorial #26541294, citing Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Arlington County, Virginia, USA ; Maintained by Pennsylvania Lady (contributor 39530540).
13. ↑ https://valor.militarytimes.com/hero/5838
14. ↑ http://www.worldcat.org/title/darkhorse-six-a-memoir-of-the-korean-war-1950-1951/oclc/52994182?loc=
15. ↑ http://www.military-writers.com/marinecorps/robert_taplett.html
16. ↑ "United States Social Security Death Index," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JKZ4-PZR : 20 May 2014), Robert D Taplett, 17 Dec 2004; citing U.S. Social Security Administration, Death Master File, database (Alexandria, Virginia: National Technical Information Service, ongoing).
17. ↑ "United States, GenealogyBank Obituaries, 1980-2014," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QK57-DT5R : accessed 24 May 2018), Col Robert D Taplett, Washington DC, United States, 30 Jan 2005; from "Recent Newspaper Obituaries (1977 - Today)," database, GenealogyBank.com (http://www.genealogybank.com : 2014); citing Washington Post, The, born-digital text.
18. ↑ Virginia Department of Health; Richmond, Virginia; Virginia Deaths, 1912-2014. Robert Donald Taplett Death Date: 17 Dec 2004 Death Place: Fairfax, Virginia, USA. Ancestry Record 9278 #2837856 Ancestry.com. Virginia, U.S., Death Records, 1912-2014 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015.
19. ↑ National Cemetery Administration; U.S. Veterans' Gravesites. Robert Donald Taplett Ancestry Record 8750 #6099730 National Cemetery Administration. U.S., Veterans' Gravesites, ca.1775-2019 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2006.

See Also:

• Wikipedia:Robert_Taplett

• Ancestry Profile gallery includes several newspaper clippings about his life and military career

• https://www.historynet.com/so-this-is-war-a-young-marine-officers-account-of-pearl-harbor-and-the-pacific-conflict.htm

• https://www.everydaypatriot.com/2020/08/colonel-robert-donald-taplett.html

• https://marines.togetherweserved.com/usmc/servlet/tws.webapp.WebApp?cmd=ShadowBoxProfile&type=BattleMemoryExt&ID=52864