Roland Dean Tausch

West Point, 1951

Be Thou At Peace

Posted by Jose Andres "Andy" Chacon on January 18, 2006:

Roland Dean Tausch Born July 3, 1928 - Died May 15, 2004 Roland Dean "Rollo" Tausch was born in New Braunfels, Texas on 3 July 1928 and was appointed to West Point from the 114th Congressional District. His West Point classmates recall: "Don't ask Rollo where he is from; its Texas and he'll soon tell you without being asked. A man of many interests, he can enliven a conversation on sports, literature, music, and politics. His battle with academics was a give and take affair. In liberal arts he took and in the technical subjects he gave a little. It remains to be seen whether or not a tank will respond to his spurs like a Texas pony." During his cadet days Rollo was with the Ski Club all four years; was Ticket Representative and on the Duty Committee cow and first class years; was a Chapel Usher cow year; and was a Cadet Captain his first class year serving as Company Commander of F-2. Upon graduation Rollo went in the Armored Corps and after completing the Basic Armored Course at The Armored School, Fort Knox, Kentucky reported to the 1st Armored Division in 1952 and still in 1952 went with the 102 Infantry Regiment in Europe where he served until 1954. In 1952, Roland became Aide de Camp to General Henry Hodes, then CG of VII Corps. The General took Roland with him to Seventh Army. A First Lt. was seen as an endangered species at both those HQ. General Hodes rank called for a field grade Aide but he insisted on keeping Roland until we rotated to CONUS in 1954. In 57 Roland attended the University of Heidelberg for a year and then became a German Instructor in the Foreign Language Dept at USMA. He later became Assistant Professor of German there. On his first tour in Vietnam, he was one of the five southernmost Americans in country in 1962, supporting the guerrilla activities of famous Chinese guerrilla priest, Father Hoa. As an Armor officer he was very proud of being awarded a CIB from that tour of duty. He was Battalion Commander of the 1st Battalion of the 33rd Armor in Gelnhausen, Germany until asked, by Army Chief of Staff Harold K. Johnson to become Province Senior Adviser of Vinh Long Province, in the Delta of Vietnam for 18 months. He received a second CIB for this tour of duty! Rollo's next assignment was as Aide-de-Camp to the Commanding General of the VII Corps from 1955 to 1956. In 1962 Rollo attended the Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas and on completion reported to Military Assistance Advisory Group, Republic of Vietnam where he served until 1963 and was decorated with the Bronze Star Medal for distinguished heroism against an enemy; three Air Medals for meritorious achievement beyond that normally expected, while participating in aerial flight; and the Combat Infantryman Badge. In 1964 Rollo attended the Armed Forces Staff College, Norfolk, Virginia and on completion earned a Master of Arts degree from Middlebury College. His next assignment was to the 2nd Armored Division and served from 1964 to 1965. From 1965 to 1966 Rollo served at Headquarters, Central Army Group and then went with the 3rd Armored Division from 1967 to 1968. Rollo's next assignment was to the Foreign Service Institute and Senior Advisor to Military Assistance Command, Vietnam; served until 1970 and was decorated with the Legion of Merit for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services; and two Air Medals for meritorious achievement beyond that normally expected, while participating in aerial flight. On return to stateside Rollo was assigned to the Institute for Military Assistance, Fort Bragg, North Carolina and served there until 1971 and was awarded the Commendation Medal for distinguished service. Rollo attended the Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania in 1972 and then went with the Staff & Faculty at The Armored School, Fort Knox, Kentucky; served until 1975 and was awarded a second Legion of Merit for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services. Rollo retired from the United States Army after a distinguished career in 1975 as a Colonel. After moving to Sarasota, Florida, Roland became President of The Speaker's Connection Global Program Bureau which booked celebrities and experts for speaking engagements, internationally. Rollo and his wife Gerry made their home in Sarasota, Florida until his death on May 15, 2004. Roland's wife, Gerry, wrote to the class on this date, "May 15th has long been a significant date in my life...and Roland's. It was then, in 1950, we met at a party in the Big Apple, -across a crowded room-- It was love at first sight. After graduation, we married, then lived in 44 homes on 3 continents, during peace and war. (This total includes TDY's as we always made TDY moves, as a family, no matter how temporary.) Fast forward time (Or, did it just seem that way?) to February 2002, and Roland's dramatic slowdown. His 31-month heavy exposure to Agent Orange, on the Camau Peninsula, as well as in Vinh Long Province, exacted a delayed, heavy cost-multiple myeloma. In Camau in '62, was where Roland and his five Army enlisted volunteers brought noted Chinese guerilla-priest, Father Hoa, under the umbrella of American military and logistical support. This peninsula received the initial downpour of Agent Orange directed under President Kennedy's Operation RanchHand. Later,in '69-70, when Roland served 18 months as Province Senior Advisor of Vinh Long-a major Delta crossroads-this area too, received a great deal of protracted Agent Orange attention. The toxins he absorbed remained dormant until 2002 when he was slammed with multiple myeloma. I once asked how he felt about Agent Orange. Roland's reply was that CaMau was surrounded on three sides by heavy VC presence and on the fourth by the South China Sea. He and four of his volunteers felt fortunate to survive unscathed. In 2002, Roland, my husband and hero, tackled multiple myeloma with the same determination and fortitude that he tackled all else. After initial, near-death experiences at Moffitt Cancer Center he underwent major, long-term physical therapy. He and I later spent 2 months together, in adjacent beds, at Heartland Rehab Center as he regained strength and honed lost physical skills. I recovered simultaneously from two new hip joints acquired one spring afternoon, which made our tandem rehab-togetherness possible! After recovery, we had many wonderful times attending operas, plays, and even able to dance once again. And, Roland attended his beloved Buc games. Then, the cancer resurged. Myeloma, or chemo side effects, resulted in congestive heart failure, total renal shutdown, and 3x weekly dialysis treatments, sustained without complaint. He also required blood and platelet transfusions and had 'port' complications. Worst of all, he suffered a chemo-caused, -thrush- problem, leaving him unable to eat or drink until he'd lost another 10 lbs. At dialysis, everyone was stunned that he could undergo 3 hour treatments with so little remaining strength. Our daughter, Tracy, was here again from Dallas for loving support, as was Hospice. Roland's will remained unwavering, but finally he decided - No more dialysis. It is time. And so, on May 15, 2004 at 9 PM, 54 years from the evening we met, I lay down next to him on our bed. Roland turned to me, covered me with an arm and nestled close to my cheek and shoulder. He heaved two deep sighs and then was at peace. Later this summer, or early fall, I shall inurn his cremains at the West Point Cemetery with family and friends. There is no place on earth he loved more than his -rock-bound highland home-not even Texas! At that time we will have a graveside memorial service and be commemorating his departure. Roland is the bravest, most noble, person I have ever known and we were very grateful for our 52 loving years of marriage-days of Grace. He fought the good fight always, for God and country. And now has well-deserved peace as a member of The Long Gray Line. Thank you so much for all your support, caring and friendship. They have blessed us. Warmly, Gerry Tausch"

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