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Carol Tyler - Vietnam War
Carol Albrecht and Bob Tyler were married in 1968 after Bob completed his Marine Corps basic training. Within a year, Bob was commissioned a Second Lieutenant and headed to flight school. For the next three decades the two forged a strong marriage despite the frequent moves and long separations that are typical of military families. Carol earned her BA degree in 1971, and following the birth and early childhood for their two children, Carol was able to teach at most of Bob's duty stations. She earned her MA degree shortly after Bob's retirement. Carol reflects on her experiences as a Marine Corps officer's wife with candor and insight, painting a detailed picture of that life.
Interview Links
Feature Excerpt
"Daddy Go Fly Here"
Abstract
Interview Session 01 (Audio)
Early life thru husband’s deployment to Vietnam as a Marine aviator
Interview Session 02 (Audio)
Bob’s time in Vietnam and their life in Hawaii and California after return
Interview Session 03 (Audio)
Bob’s career in Marine Corps from the perspective of his wife and family
Photos
Caption
Carol Albrecht’s Paris High School photo. She graduated in 1965.
Where:
Paris High School
When:
1965
Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain.
Caption
Private Robert and Mrs. Carol Tyler on their wedding day in March 1968 in Paris, Illinois.
Where:
Paris, Illinois
When:
March 1968
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
In February 1969 Carol Tyler pinned on Bob’s 2nd Lieutenant bars during his commissioning ceremony at Quantico, Virginia. She sported twin black eyes from a mishap with a door at Eastern Illinois University. Next stop for Lieutenant Tyler was flight school.
Where:
Quantico, Virginia
When:
February 1969
Ownership:
Narrator's photo
Caption
Carol Tyler pins on First Lieutenant Robert Tyler’s silver wings during his graduation from the Army’s helicopter flight school at Hunter-Stewart Army Air Field in Savannah, Georgia in April 1970.
Where:
Hunter-Stewart Army Air Field
When:
April 1970
Ownership:
Narrator's photo
Caption
Bob headed toward the plane that would take him to the Republic of South Vietnam in VN in November 1970. Carol recalled the many times she would see her husband’s back as he left for a deployment, military school or exercise.
Where:
Unknown
When:
November 1970
Ownership:
Narrator's photo
Caption
Carol, Rob and Bob. This photo taken at Carol’s apartment in Charleston, Illinois on the day Bob left for South Vietnam in November 1970.
Where:
Charleston, Illinois
When:
November 1970
Ownership:
Narrator's photo
Caption
Carol (Albrecht) Tyler in 1971, while a student at Eastern Illinois University. Her husband Bob was serving in Vietnam at the time.
Where:
Unknown
When:
1971
Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain.
Caption
The Marines were visited frequently by USO shows during Bob’s tour in Vietnam. Bob saw this group perform in 1971. The band hailed from Australia.
Where:
Unknown
When:
1971
Ownership:
Husband Robert Tyler’s photo
Caption
Carol and her son Rob enjoyed a day in Honolulu, Hawaii in 1973.
Where:
Honolulu, Hawaii
When:
1973
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
Carol with Suzanne and Rob in 1975 during a family trip to Washington, D.C. while stationed at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia.
Where:
Washington, D.C.
When:
1975
Ownership:
Narrator's photo
Caption
Family moving day in 1981 outside the Tyler’s home in Corona, California. The site of a moving van in front of their home was an all too common experience for Carol through the years.
Where:
Corona, California
When:
1981
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
The Tylers gathered for a family portrait in 1983 while they lived in Dumfries, Virginia, near Quantico. From left to right are Robert (Robbie), Suzanne, Carol and Bob.
Where:
Dumfries, Virginia
When:
1983
Ownership:
Narrator's photo
Caption
Robert R. Tyler with Robert R. Tyler, Jr. in Havelock, North Carolina for Bob, Snr’s Change of Command in 1987.
Where:
Havelock, North Carolina
When:
1987
Ownership:
Narrator's photo
Caption
The family was on hand for Lieutenant Colonel Tyler’s Change of Command in 1987: Rob, Carol, and Bob in the front, with Bob’s Uncle Phil and Suzanne in the back.
Where:
Havelock, North Carolina
When:
1987
Ownership:
Narrator's photo
Caption
Bob and Carol Tyler in Havelock, North Carolina in 1988.
Where:
Havelock, North Carolina
When:
1988
Ownership:
Narrator's photo
Caption
Rob’s Citadel graduation day in 1990 with Carol and Suzanne. The Citadel is in Charleston, South Carolina.
Where:
Charleston, South Carolina
When:
1990
Ownership:
Narrator's photo
Caption
Carol Tyler and Bob in 1991. Bob was working at Headquarters, Marine Corps in Alexandria, Virginia at the time.
Where:
Alexandria, Virginia
When:
1991
Ownership:
Narrator's photo
Caption
Bob was promoted to Colonel in 1993 at Headquarters Marine Corps, Washington DC, an indication of a successful career. Sharing pinning duties with Carol is BGen Arthur C. Blades.
Where:
Washington, D.C.
When:
1993
Ownership:
Narrator's photo
Caption
Colonel Bob Tyler had the honor to ‘wing’ his son Rob at Ft. Rucker, Alabama in 1994. Rob had decided on Army aviation after graduating from the Citadel. (Narrator’s photo)
Where:
Ft. Rucker, Alabama
When:
1994
Ownership:
Narrator's photo
Caption
Carol Tyler and Bob at a Florida Ball in 1995. Bob was stationed near Orlando, Florida for his last posting in the Marine Corps. Both he and Carol were busy working on advanced degrees at the time.
Where:
Florida
When:
1995
Ownership:
Narrator's photo
Caption
Bob and Carol enjoyed sharing the USMC Ball in 1996 with Suzanne (wearing her wedding dress) and husband Darren.
Where:
Orlando, Florida
When:
1996
Ownership:
Narrator's photo
Caption
Carol sits next to Bob at his retirement ceremony in 1997. Bob had spent his ‘twilight’ assignment at the Naval Air Warfare Center in Orlando, Florida.
Where:
Orlando, Florida
When:
1997
Ownership:
Narrator's photo
Caption
Carol Receiving a Certificate of Appreciation at Bob’s retirement ceremony from BG Joseph Anderson in 1997.
Where:
Orlando, Florida
When:
1997
Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain.
Caption:
Carol received her Masters of Liberal Studies degree from Rollins in 1998.
Where:
Rollins College in Winter Park, Florida
When:
1998
Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain.
Caption
Carol and Bob Tyler with friends at the Peoria Reserve Unit USMC Ball in 2018. The annual Marine Corps Ball is typically held on or near the Marine Corps birthday on November 10th.
Where:
Peoria, Illinois
When:
2018
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo