James Leroy Tangeman

Second Lieutenant
H BTRY, 3RD BN, 11TH MARINES, 1ST MARDIV
United States Marine Corps
19 April 1945 - 29 July 1968
Flat Rock, Michigan
Panel 50W Line 033

1ST MARDIV

11TH MARINES
Purple Heart, National Defense, Vietnam Service, Vietnam Campaign

The database page for James Leroy Tangeman

13 Mar 2003

From basketball star to Vietnam hero.
When Jim was a senior at Heidelberg College, I was a freshman.
I saw him play many games at Seiberling Gym. He was a fine player.

From another "Student Prince",
Ron Johnston
RR 6, Box 79, Marietta, Oh 45750
ronjohnston45750@yahoo.com

12 May 2004

I was a basketball teammate of Jim's during the 1965-66 season at Heidelberg College. He was an outstanding basketball player, a natural leader and he took on each day as if there was no tomorrow.

When I found his name on the Viet Nam War Memorial in D.C. years ago it brought me to tears.

From a teammate,
Paul Brown
pbrown@bearingpoint.net

7 Sep 2004

I was the 2nd Platoon Commander with Echo 2/7 during these operations.

Jim was assigned as our arty officer and provided arty coverage on numerous platoon patrols, company patrols and humped the hills with us without complaint.

He was a Marine, I can offer no higher tribute.

From a brother officer,
J. Toya, USMC (Ret)
P O Box 2062, Corrales, NM
jtoya@msn.com

15 Nov 2005

Jim was a fraternity brother in Nu Sigma Alpha at Heidelberg. He was also a Brother-In-Arms, and a good friend.

You are sadly missed, my brother.

Douglas L Tait
CW4 US Army (Ret)
douglt@innernet.net

A Note from The Virtual Wall

At the request of the 1st Marine Division, Battalion Landing Team (BLT) 2/7 launched Operation Swift Play on 23 July 1968, only 17 hours after re-embarking on board amphibious shipping at the close of Operation Eager Yankee in Thua Thien Province.

Designed to complement Operation Allen Brook, Operation Swift Play was a surprise thrust into the Da The Mountain area, 6 km south of Go Noi Island. After landing by helicopter, BLT 2/7 swept north toward the Song Chiem Son and the Allen Brook area of operations. During the week-long sweep, the BLT 2/7 Marines uncovered numerous enemy caches and base areas, including what appeared to be a training center complete with lecture hall, carefully hidden in the steep, forested mountains. On 31 July, BLT 2/7 crossed the Chiem Son to Go Noi Island and relieved 3/27 Marines of responsibility for Operation Allen Brook.

Two days earlier, on 29 July 1968, BLT 2/7 lost three men:

  • 2ndLt James L. Tangeman, Flat Rock, MI, H Btry, 3rd Bn, 11th Marines
  • Cpl Jack M. Strong, Horseheads, NY, H&S Company, 2/7
  • Pfc Paul Shireman, Jacksonville, AR, Echo 2/7
A Marine Battalion Landing Team consists of an infantry battalion with attached forces suitable for the BLT's intended use. In Vietnam, a BLT commonly had an artillery section, usually made up of smaller guns suitable for carriage by helicopter. Lieutenant Tangeman, an artillery officer assigned to H Battery, 3rd Battalion, 11th Marines, was part of BLT 2/7's artillery team, functioning as a forward observer.




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