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First Name: Charles

Last Name: Taliano

Birthplace: Cleveland, OH, USA

Gender: Male

Branch: Marines (present)



Home of Record: Cleveland, OH




Date of Birth: 09 May 1945

Date of Death: 04 June 2010

Rank: Sergeant

Years Served: 1963 - 1969
Charles Taliano
'Chuck'

   
Biography:

Charles "Chuck" Taliano
Sergeant, U.S. Marine Corps

Charles Taliano was born on 9 May 1945 in Cleveland, OH; he was also raised in that city.

After receiving his education mostly in parochial schools, he left a small community college and enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in November 1963, and reported for recruit training at Parris Island, SC, in February 1964. Upon completion of Basic and Advanced Infantry Training, PFC Taliano was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 10th Marines, 2nd Marine Division, at Camp Lejeune, NC. While serving with Hq Battery, 2/10 Supply, he deployed with Division to Santo Domingo, during the Dominican Republic crisis in May 1965. Selected for Drill Instructor school, Cpl Taliano completed training and was assigned to Drill Instructor duty in May 1966 at Parris Island. He served with D Company, 2nd Recruit Training Battalion (same unit he trained with as a recruit) the entire tour, except for a three-month assignment as a drown-proofing instructor at the base swimming pool.

The famous poster photograph of Taliano, which features him giving a new Marine recruit an "attitude readjustment," was taken in 1968, less than one month before Taliano was honorably discharged from active duty. A reservist who was writing a book about the Marine boot camp at Parris Island took the photograph of Taliano. The picture, which shows Taliano just inches from a recruit's face, would be adopted by the Marine Corps as a recruitment poster throughout the 1970s and 1980s. It added the caption, "We don't promise you a rose garden," for the poster.

In November 1968, less than one month after the photograph was taken, Taliano was released from active duty. He was honorably discharged in November 1969. He worked in the publishing industry for more than 30 years. He retired to a home in Beaufort, SC, in 2001.

Following his retirement, Taliano became Manager of the Parris Island Museum's gift shop, Alexander Ship's Store, in late 2002. Taliano quickly became an attraction himself, as visitors and active military personnel would stop at the museum to meet him. Stephen Wise, the curator of the Parris Island Museum, told The Beaufort Gazette in 2010, "Everyone from generals to former privates would stop by to see him."

Death and Burial

Sergeant Charles Taliano died of multiple myeloma on 4 June 2010 at his home in Beaufort, SC, at the age of 65. His memorial service was held at the Recruit Chapel at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island. He is buried at Beaufort National Cemetery in Beaufort.



Honoree ID: 3135   Created by: MHOH

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