Richard G. Tangeman

By zthanson, 9 December, 2022
First Name
Richard
Middle Name
G.
Last Name
Tangeman
Birthdate
Hometown
New York City, New York
Rank
Captain
Service Branch
Navy
Date Captured
Date Repatriated
Pre Capture Image
Man in a decorated U.S. Navy suit and cap.
PreCapture Description

The exact date of Dick Tangeman's birth is not known besides the fact that he was born in the year 1940. Dick Tangeman entered the U.S. Navy's Aviation Officer Candidate Program on April 22, 1964, receiving his commission as an Ensign on August 17, 1964. Ensign Tangeman completed Naval Aviation Officer School and was designated a Naval Flight Officer in December 1964, and then attended RA-5C Vigilante Replacement Air Group training with RVAH-3 at NAS Sanford, Florida, from December 1964 to December 1965. His first assignment was as an RA-5C Reconnaissance Navigator with RVAH-1 at NAS Sanford and deployed aboard the aircraft carriers USS Independence (CVA-62, from June 1966 to February 1967) and USS Enterprise (CVN-65, from January to May 1968) from December 1965 until he was forced to eject over North Vietnam and was taken as a Prisoner of War on May 5, 1968.

Post Release Image
Man in a suit and bow tie.
Post Release Description

Lieutenant Tangeman was released during Operation Homecoming on March 14, 1973. He was briefly hospitalized to recover from his injuries at the Naval Hospital at NAS Jacksonville, Florida, and then received an assignment to complete his Master's degree at Florida Tech University from July 1973 to August 1975. Commander Tangeman served as an Admin Officer and Naval Flight Officer Instructor with VT-86 at NAS Pensacola, Florida, from September 1975 to May 1977, and then as an A-6 Intruder bombardier/navigator with VA-176 at NAS Oceana, Virginia, from June 1977 to September 1979. His next assignment was as Head of the Fiscal Management Branch with Naval Military Personnel Command at the Pentagon from October 1979 to October 1982, followed by service as Commanding Officer of the Personnel Support Activity, Orlando, Florida, from November 1982 to February 1985. Captain Tangeman then served as the Principal Assistant for Financial Matters to the Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Naval Warfare at the Pentagon from June 1985 to July 1988. Captain Tangeman retired from the Navy on December 31, 1995.

Honors, Citations, and Commendations
  • Defense Superior Service Medal (2)
  • Legion of Merit (4)
  • Bronze Star (4)
  • Prisoner of War Medal
Additional Asset 1
R.Tangeman.jpg (17.63 KB)
Asset 1 Caption
Close up photo of a man and his profile.
Passed away before release
Post Release