Captain Joseph Truitt Talbert, Jr. had a long and active Naval career. After graduating from the Naval Academy in 1956, he served briefly aboard the destroyer USSFloyd B. Parks (DD-884). He then transferred to the submarine service. After completing submarine school, he served aboard USS Redfish (SS-395) (sister ship that had been built alongside USS Razorback); USS Salmon (SS-573); USS Theodore Roosevelt (SSBN-600); USS Ulysses S. Grant (SSBN-631); USS Carbonero (SS-337) and was Executive Officer aboard USS Sterlet (SS-392).
On 19 December 1969, then LCDR Talbert relieved CDR William Biggar as Commanding Officer, USS Razorback.
CDR Talbert would take Razorback on her final WESTPAC deployment. On 30 November, 1970, CDR Talbert would decommission Razorback and turn her over to the Turkish Navy.
CAPT Talbert retired from the Navy in 1979. He was active in the successful effort to bring Razorback back from Turkey.
CAPT Talbert passed away on 30 November, 2012.
Over the years, CAPT Talbert donated many personal items to AIMM. We highlight a few of these donations below.
Prior to assuming command of Razorback, then-Commander Talbert attended the PCO (Prospective Commanding Officer’s) School. Click here to read the unclassifed notes issued by the PCO school. They are a good primer for leadership today.
During her final WESTPAC deployment, Razorback had to pull into Apra Harbor, Guam in mid-July for repairs. These repairs delayed Razorback‘s return home, and CDR Talbert sent a letter to the family members of the crew to keep them appraised of the news.
The letter also lists a number of promotions, presentation of submarine qualifications, and awards.
Click here to read a copy of CDR Talbert’s letter.
Just prior to the decommissioning ceremony, then-Commander Talbert conducted an awards ceremony aboard Razorback.
Click here for a copy of the program from the awards ceremony.