James Wiley Taul – Colonel, United States Marine Corps

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From a contemporary press report:

James Wiley Taul, 85, a retired Marine Corps colonel who was a decorated veteran of World War II and the Korean War, died of cancer October 31, 2001, at his home in Arlington,Virginia.

Colonel Taul was a native of Winchester, Ky., and a graduate of the University of Kentucky.

He received his commission in the Marine Corps through the ROTC program in 1939.

In the course of his career, he served on the staff of the Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island, and graduated from the National War College in Washington

One of his first assignments was with the Marine detachment at the New York World’s Fair in 1940.

In World War II, he served aboard the aircraft carrier USS Ranger in the Atlantic and took part in anti-submarine operations and the invasion of North Africa. In 1943, he was transferred to the Pacific.

He took part in the invasions of Kwajalein, Saipan and Tinian as a company commander and staff officer.

His last campaign was the bloody battle for Iwo Jima, in which he served as a battalion commander in the 25th Marine Regiment.

He was awarded the Silver Star.

During the Korean War, Col. Taul was a regimental executive officer and later the Marine Corps liaison officer to the U.S. 8th Army in Korea.

Col. Taul subsequently had assignments in Hawaii, at the Quantico Marine Corps Base and at Marine Corps Headquarters in Washington.

He was commanding officer of the 2nd Marine Regiment and then operations officer of the 2nd Marine Division at Camp LeJeune Marine Corps Base in North Carolina before retiring in 1965.

Col. Taul was the comptroller of the YMCA for the Washington metropolitan area in the late 1960s. He retired a second time about 1969.

In addition to the Silver Star, his military decorations included the Legion of Merit with combat “V,” the Bronze Star, the Navy Commendation Ribbon with combat “V” and three awards of the Presidential Unit Citation.

An Arlington resident since 1958, he was a member of the Walker Chapel United Methodist Church there.

Survivors include his wife of 60 years, Virginia Batterton Taul of Arlington; two children, Virginia Batterton Taul Gorman of Annandale and James Taul Jr. of San Francisco; and two grandchildren.

TAUL, JAMES W., Col, USMC (Ret.)

On Wednesday, October 31, 2001, of Arlington, VA. Beloved husband of Virginia B. Taul; father of Virginia T. Gorman and James W. Taul, Jr. Also survived by two grandsons, Joseph B. and David B. Gorman. Funeral services will be held at Walker Chapel United Methodist Church, 4102 N. Glebe Rd., Arlington, VA 22207 on Monday, November 5 at 7 p.m. Friends are asked to assemble at the Administration Building, Arlington National Cemetery, on Tuesday, November 27 at 12:30 p.m., followed by graveside services with Full Military Honors at 1 p.m. Memorial contributions may be made to Walker Chapel United Methodist Church; or Hospice of Northern Virginia, 9300 Lee Hwy., 5th Floor, Fairfax, VA 22031.

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