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Submitted 
by his Daughter, Patricia Lee,
aka Miss Pete 

.

SFC Delbert C Totty

My dad is SFC Delbert Chan Totty. He was born in Wheeler, Texas on August 27, 1928. He was the youngest 
son of 9 children, 5 boys and 4 girls. My Dad's family began
their migration to Kern County in California during the Dust Bowl, "Grapes of Wrath".
      In 1948, at the age of 19 my dad joined the Army. He served in Ft. Kobbe, in the Panama Canal Zone. While stationed in Panama he met and married my mother, Cynthia. My sisters, Della, Linda, and I were born in Panama. Shortly after my birth we moved to Ft. Riley, Kansas where my brother Del was born.
        We moved to Kern County, while my dad served a 13 
month tour in Korea. When my dad completed his tour in
Korea, we moved to Ft. Knox, Kentucky and then finally to 
Ft. Ord, my parent's favorite Army post, in beautiful Monterey, California. My youngest sister, Trudy, was born while we 
were living in Ft. Ord.
       Our next adventure lead us to Munich, Germany for 
3 years. We left Munich in November 1965 and returned
to Ft. Ord, a few months later my dad received his orders for Vietnam. My dad moved us off base to Napa, California, 
where my parents bought their first home. My dad bought 
the home with the dreams of retiring there some day.
       My dad arrived to Vietnam on August 8, 1966. His base 
camp was at Phouc Vinh in the III Corps, aka
"The Iron Triangle". He was assigned the duty of
Platoon Sgt. for B Company, 26th Infantry, 1st Division.
He had the honor of serving under LTC Alexander Haig, Jr., 
and CPT George Joulwan. CPT Joulwan, is now Retired 
GEN. Joulwan, the former NATO Supreme Commander in Europe.
      My dad heard of my baby brother's, Robert, birth via 
The Red Cross. The young men in my dad's Platoon threw 
a party for him while they were in the boonies. Eleven short 
days later, my dad was dead.

The position title of platoon sergeant is considered key in the command structure of the Army.  Platoon sergeants generally have several staff sergeants working under their direct leadership.  The platoon sergeant is the key assistant and advisor to the platoon leader.  In the absence of the platoon leader, the platoon sergeant commands the platoon.  The platoon sergeant or sergeant first class generally has 15 to 18 years or more of military experience and is rightfully expected to bring that experience to bear in quick, accurate decisions that are in the best interest of the mission and the soldier.  The platoon sergeant is expected to embody all the traits of a leader.

1. TC 320.  The following AWARD is announced posthumously. 

TOTTY, DELBERT C. RA19305441 PLATOON SERGEANT E7,
United States Army Company B, 1st Battalion, 26th Infantry 

Awarded:  Silver Star 
Date of action: 31 March 1967 
Theater:  Republic of Vietnam 

Reason:

For gallantry in action against a hostile force :  On this date, Sergeant Totty was serving as platoon sergeant during Operation Junction City.  His company has assumed defensive positions on a landing zone near Quan Loi when they were suddenly subjected to an intense mortar barrage followed by a concentrated insurgent ground attack.  The insurgents breached the lines of another company and threatened to overrun the command post.  Sergeant Totty rallied his men and led them to the assistance of the embattled friendly element. 

They encountered the Viet Cong before they overran the command post and halted the insurgent advance with rifle fire and grenades.  The Viet Cong brought up their  support elements and began another assault of friendly positions. Undaunted Sergeant Totty led his men into the center of the battle.  After moments of violent hand to hand combat and effective fire into the insurgent ranks, the Viet Cong were forced to retreat.  Sergeant Totty and his comrades regained the territory lost in the initial attack and with suppressive fire forced the Viet Cong back into adevastating air strike and mortar barrage. 

The desperate Viet Cong attempted to break the cordon that closed around them. Sergeant Totty again moved to the area of heaviest fighting to assist his embattled comrades.  He continued to fight courageously and killed many Viet Cong before he was mortally wounded by an enemy grenade. 

Platoon Sergeant Totty's outstanding display of aggressiveness, devotion to duty and personal bravery is in keeping with the finest traditions of themilitary service and reflects great credit upon himself, the 1st Infantry Division and the United States Army. 

Authority:   By direction of the President, as established by an Act of Congress, 
9 July 1918, and USARV 
Message 16695, dated 1 July 1966.