Lucky Bag Yearbook

From the 1966 Lucky Bag:

BENJAMIN TAPPAN III

Born in Niagara Falls, New York, Ben is the son of an old Naval Aviator and has seen many places of interest in this wide world. Ben came to the Academy straight from Rogers High School in Newport, Rhode Island, where he won letters in track and cross-country. Although on the National Honor Society, as well as the Rhode Island Honor Society, “Academics” proved to be Ben’s big obstacle at the Academy, where he always seemed to be far from the top of his class and not too far from the bottom. Despite this one little handicap, however, Ben was always able to nourish his love for SCUBA Diving through the USNA SCUBA Club. No matter how cold the water, or where the dive, Ben was always there. We feel this is the way he’ll be as a Naval officer … a man with an undying devotion to the service both he and his father love.

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He was also a member of the 8th Company staff (fall).

Loss

Ben was lost when his A-7E Corsair II crashed near Naval Air Station Cubi Point, Philippines, on June 2, 1980.

Other Information

From researcher Kathy Franz:

Benjamin graduated from high school in Newport, Rhode Island. After the Naval Academy, he earned a master’s degree from the Navy Postgraduate School in Monterey, California. He received his wings in 1967 and served in the Vietnam war. He was authorized to wear the Navy Commendation Medal with Combat V, the Navy Unit Commendation Medal, the Navy E, the Navy Expeditionary Medal, the Humanitarian Service Medal and numerous other U.S. and foreign awards.

He served with Attack Squadron 147 embarked on the USS Constellation on deployment to the Western Pacific.

Services were held in the First Christian Reformed Church, Hanford, California, followed by burial in the Lemoore Cemetery.

Survived by his wife, the former Joan Hailey Irons; two sons, John Tappan and Benjamin Tappan IV; two daughters Stephane and Kendall; his parents, a sister Susan, and a grandmother, Mrs. Lloyd E. Schrack.

He is buried in California.

Benjamin’s father, Benjamin Tappan, Jr., was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for action during the Battle of Midway. He took command of a fighter squadron in 1953. Benjamin’s grandfather was also a Naval Officer and a graduate (USNA 1876) who was awarded the Navy Cross for service in World War I.