Talbot, Grady E.

Grady Talbot was born in Los Angeles but was raised in Fresno, California, graduating from Roosevelt High School in 1953. Immediately after completion of high school, while the Korean War was still in Progress, Grady joined the Marine Corps, and after boot camp received further training as a Demolitions Specialist, and thereafter was sent to Korea in 1954 with the 1st Marine Division, where he was the battalion demolition specialist for 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines. Grady completed his 3-year tour in the Marine Corps and was discharged in the rank of Sergeant (E-4).

Upon leaving the Marine Corps in 1956, Grady began his education at Valley Junior College in North Hollywood, CA, transferred to Los Angeles Pierce College in 1957, worked one year at the Rocketdyne Div. of North American Aviation, and then completed his undergraduate studies in mechanical engineering at California Polytechnic University San Luis Obispo, graduating in 1961, and working one year as an engineer before joining the USAF in 1962.

After completing OTS, Captain Talbot was assigned to Class 64-D at Reese AFB in Lubbock, TX. Following UPT, Grady flew F-100’s from 1963 -1969. After completing F-100 training, Grady joined the 615th TFS at England AFT, Alexandria, LA, and was immediately sent to the Sawbuck Detachment at Takhli where he flew on the first strike into North Vietnam in the Spring of 1965. Grady was variously assigned to TDYs at Aviano (Nuclear Alert tour), Squadron Officers School in Montgomery, AL, and to assist the NJANG in upgrading to combat status on their activation in 1968. On completion of the second half of his Vietnam tour, Grady returned to Luke AFB where he was a flight instructor in both instruments and guns at the 4500 CCTW.

After leaving the USAF in 1969, Grady worked as a stockbroker in Phoenix, Arizona from 1970 to 1973. From that time until 1986, Grady farmed in the Imperial Valley, near El Centro, California, mostly raising alfalfa. In 1990, he completed his Doctorate of Law degree from the University of San Diego’s School of Law and is still practicing law in Rosemead, CA.

While at Valley Junior College, in 1956, Grady Talbot and another Korean veteran founded the local fraternity, Phi Delta Psi, where he was the second president, and which later grew to 8 chapters throughout Southern California. In recent years he was the founder of the original Maple Leaf Society, a philanthropic group composed of alumni members of his Phi Delta Psi fraternity. He was elected the first President of the reorganized Maple Leaf Society in the spring of 2004. He is a founder and past member of the Board of The Museum of the San Fernando Valley. He and his wife Alice live in Rosemead, California. His six children and 10 grandchildren are scattered all over hell, with only one son and one grandson living in southern California.