Carson Rex Tallent

Carson Rex Tallent, 98, of Caldwell went home to his heavenly Father on July 23, 2023 Rex, a student at Southeast Missouri State, eagerly joined, and upon graduation the Navy commissioned him as an ensign.

At the same time the Navy was developing its amphibious warfare capabilities and needed officers and men for the new underwater demolition teams or UDT. Rex volunteered and became a Frogman, and his first assignment was to lead a small team to attack the defenses in Tokyo Bay.

Fortunately, the war ended before he had to execute such a dangerous mission as the U.S. canceled the invasion.

Later the UDT teams acquired additional skillsets beyond the sea. They became adept at parachuting from the air and operating on land, thus the Sea, Air, Land handed the organization a new name, SEALs. Rex was a founding member of today’s famed SEALs.

As a young officer, Rex not only served as a Frogman, he also trained in ship handling and anti-submarine warfare. As a Lieutenant Commander, Rex took command of the Destroyer Escort U.S.S. Lester, (DE 1022). He commanded from 1959 to 1961 and focused on anti-submarine operations working with NATO and other allies.

The Navy next sent Rex to language immersion school at Columbia University where he learned to read, write, and speak Russian. He used these new skills while serving on a special assignment in Washington, D.C., and off the coast of Korea.

As Rex became more senior, his duties and responsibilities increased and he took command of the Destroyer, USS Hull (DD945) in March of 1964. He led the ship during its initial service in the Vietnam War providing coastal shelling of enemy targets and rescuing downed aviators.

Rex continued to serve as a SEAL and as a Navy captain, the Navy assigned him to Saigon as the senior adviser for Special Warfare to the Vietnamese Navy. His performance was so impressive that he received a letter from the Navy’s Chief of Naval Operations,Admiral Zumwalt, recommending him for promotion to admiral.

Rex retired in San Diego, California, and attended law school at Cal Western and was admitted to the California bar in 1978.

He is survived by his wife, Constance Tallent; his daughters, Debbie Ruggles and Laura Tallent; son, Scott Tallent; and stepson, James Oliver; and his brother, Hamlin Tallent; and sister, Betty Ann Kinder.

A memorial service is scheduled for 1 p.m. onAugust 11, 2023, at the Elizabeth Lutheran Church.