Jack Zallen memorial

Vietnam Veteran Jack Zallen served with Company B, 1/7th Cavalry during the Ia Drang Battle in 1965. Zallen's platoon was cut off and it's members fought for their lives for 26 hours. Only 8 walked out unscathed. I first met Zallen several years ago while looking for people from the 1st Squadron, 9th Cavalry which my father served with from 1969-1971 in Vietnam. A couple years later, when I had decided to make a documentary and tell the story of my father and his unit in Vietnam I interviewed Jack Zallen at a Company B, 1/7th Reunion in Illinois. He was always reluctant to talk about his own experience but had no problem telling me about the first colonel that led my father's unit early in the war: John B. Stockton. Stockton was the model for the colonel in Apocalypse Now. I have to say over the last few years Zallen became a good friend because I saw him at many reunions. It was very sad to hear he was killed in a motorcycle accident this last Friday. Zallen was a humble hero of the war but he was no doubt a hero in the truest sense of the meaning.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Jack Zallen
• memorial
• cut off platoon
• LZ Xray
• We we're soldiers
• B Co
• 1/7th Cavalry
• 7th Cavalry
• Vietnam War
• army military
• American Soldier
• lost platoon
• Ia Drang Valley

[Connie2S]

That is a real shame that he died in a motorcycle accident! RIP! I feel the deepest sympathy for his friends and family!

[SuperDragonfly1970]

A fallen warrior not forgotten by his friends who served not with him or by him, but in the same war. Welcome home and farewell my friend.

[lraine67]

Rest in peace.

Jack was part of my family and my husband's best friend for 55 years. He was very important to my husband, children and grandchildren.

[geraldmaddock]

Rest In Peace, Jack......Gary Owen

I met Jack at Grissom last year......