COL. Garold Lee Tippin, ‘58

COL. Garold Lee Tippin (US ARMY RET.) was an Infantry Officer who served his country with distinction.  Among his many medals, COL Tippin was awarded the Silver Star for gallantry in action in Vietnam. In February of 1966, then MAJ Tippin landed his helicopter under enemy fire to rescue five soldiers. He carried three of the wounded men across the open ground, making six trips across the clearing, ignoring flying shell fragments and enemy fire. MAJ Tippin made the rescue after an EVAC helicopter was unable to approach the landing zone due to enemy fire. The platoon on the ground marked the LZ with flashlights. His additional awards are included in the “Military and Civilian Awards and Decorations” section.

COL Tippin is also an accomplished author of historical and non-fiction as well as military history and tactics and these publications have been listed in the “Positions the nominee has held or currently holds in the civilian community” section. COL Tippin passed away Aug. 25, 2017 and was interned with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery on Sept. 17, 2018.

He is survived by this three children, Kelly Tippin, Dr. Douglas Tippin and Garett Tippin and one grandson, Douglas Lee Tippin.