Colonel Bruce E. Wallace

Colonel Bruce E. Wallace passed away on December 13, 2006, at his home in Midland, Texas. He was born in Bangs, Texas, on December 4, 1923. He graduated from Arlington High School in Arlington, Texas, in 1943 where he excelled in athletics lettering in football and track, and garnering honors as a Golden Gloves boxing champion. Colonel Wallace went on to have a remarkable and distinguished career in service to his country. One of this nations most decorated soldiers, Col. Wallace served his nation in three wars. He served as a tailgunner with the 8th Air Corp in World War II, flying 46 missions over Germany. He was shot down three times. The third time was a bombing mission over Berlin on February 3, 1945, where, after crash landing behind enemy lines, he was captured by the enemy. While being transported to a second prisoner of war camp, Col. Wallace dispatched his captors and escaped, making it safely back to England. After the war, Col. Wallace returned home to Texas and entered Texas A&M University where he played quarterback on the Texas Aggie football team. In 1948 he married Janie Decker, his high school sweetheart. In December 1949, he served in Korea as a platoon leader with the 187th Regimental Combat Team, 11th Airborne Division. He made both combat jumps in the Korean Conflict. In 1957, Col. Wallace graduated from the Ranger Course and became Chairman of the Training & Special Projects Committee where he introduced the pugil stick? and wrote the narration as Principal Instructor of the Ranger Demonstration presented to the President of the United States.In 1960, he graduated from the Command and General Staff College and was selected to be a staff officer in the Office of the Army Chief of Staff and was also selected as a principal action officer for the National Military Command Center. Twice a week, he briefed the assembled Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Secretary of Defense.In August of 1963, Col. Wallace was assigned to a tour of duty in Ethiopia during the reign of Haile Selassie where he was the only military liaison allowed in the country. In December 1966, Col. Wallace entered into his third war in service to his country. He was the Deputy Brigade Commander of the 1st Infantry Division at Cu Chi. He also served as commander of the 2nd Battalion, 16th Infantry, 1st Infantry Division before being transferred to the 9th Infantry Division as the G2 and G3. In July of 1967, he became the commander of the 3rd Battalion of the 47th Infantry. During this tour, he was severely wounded, and returned home.From 1968 to 1970, Col. Wallace served as Operations & Plans Officer on the staff of the Commander, Joint Unconventional Warfare Task Force Atlantic at Ft. Bragg, North Carolina, before returning for his second tour of duty in Vietnam. There he was assigned as the Senior Advisor to the Vietnamese 25th Infantry Division, and concurrently as the commander of the 25th Division Combat Assistance Team. During this time, his command and control helicopter was shot down by an SA-7 missile during the siege at An Loc. He evaded capture for more than a week, before rejoining his unit. In 1972, Col. Wallace assumed the duties of Chief of the Pacification Operations Branch of the Organization of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. While there, he served as the Deputy Director for Operations of Counterinsurgency and Special Activities. In 1974, he served as President of the Airborne & Communications Electronics Board.In 1978, he retired to Midland. He joined the High Sky Wing of the Commemorative Air Force, where he greatly enjoyed the camaraderie of fellow military historians. He was honored to be inducted into the American Combat Airman Hall of Fame in 2000.His awards include the Distinguished Service Medal, multiple Silver Stars and Bronze Stars, five Purple Hearts, the Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal with Valor and clusters, Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with palms and stars, French Croix de Guerre with palms, Soldiers Medal, Good Conduct Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, and the Legion of Merit. His badges include the Combat Infantrymans Badge with Star, Joint Chiefs of Staff Badge, Master Parachute Badge with Stars, Glider Badge, and Aerial Gunner Wings.He was preceded in death by his parents, Karl E. Wallace and Camille Shield Wallace. He is survived by his loving wife of 58 years, Janie D. Wallace; daughter Sharon McMains and husband, Joel, of Jacksonville, Florida, and their children, Neely and J.P.; son Steve Wallace and wife, Lee, of Midland, and their children, Mark and Matthew; daughter Valerie Hale and husband, Alan, of Midland, and their children, Tyler, Ryan, and Megan; and siblings, Beryl Wilkinson, Karl Wallace, Jr., Lynn Bass of Midland, Wayne Wallace, and Niki Dameron-Smith, and their families.In celebration of his life, a service will be held on Saturday, December 16th, at 11:00 a.m. in the Glass Chapel of the First Methodist Church in Midland. Interment will follow at 4:00 p.m. at the Santa Anna Cemetery in Santa Anna, Texas. The family requests that memorials be directed to the High Sky Wing of the Commemorative Air Force or the charity of your choice. Arrangements are under the direction of Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home & Crematory of Midland. Online condolences can be made at: www.npwelch.com,