Richard Jewell Dalché

He was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, on December 2, 1930, to Alice Marie Dalché née Harris and Richard Louis Dalché. He graduated from St. Cecelia's Parochial School in New Orleans, Louisiana, in 1943 and from Holy Cross College (high school) in New Orleans, Louisiana, in 1947. Richard worked for Alcoa Steamship Company in New Orleans from 1947-1949 as a Freight Traffic Clerk before entering the U.S. Army in 1949 where he served on active duty in Japan, Germany, and Korea before returning to the U.S. in 1957. After leaving active duty, he remained in the U.S. Army reserves and the ready reserves until his retirement. He settled in Chicago, Illinois, starting his studies at The University of Illinois Navy Pier (Chicago) before transferring to the main campus at Urbana-Champaign, Illinois.

He was a Fulbright Scholar from 1962-1963 at the University of Paris Sorbonne doing independent research on "The American Image in French Literature since World War II." While in Paris, he also took courses in Japanese at the Institut de Langues Oriental. He received his BA degree with Honors in The Teaching of English from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 1962 where he was a teaching assistant and counselor. He was a member of Phi Kapppa Phi and Chi Gamma Iota. During the 1970-1971 academic year, Richard continued research on French and German military history focusing on the period 1871-1914. He received his MA with Honors specializing in History in 1972 from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Richard was working on his Ph.D. in African studies but said he was distracted by meeting his wife Johanna Bartosh in 1982. A distraction, he said, that "was always well worth it."

From 1964 to 1990, Richard was employed at Community District 218 in Oak Lawn, Illinois, as a secondary school language teacher in French, German and English. He took two years' (1984-1986) leave of absence, without pay with Johanna, to base out of Paris, France, and travel Europe, Asia and Africa to broaden his intellectual curiosity and to bring an expanded knowledge of awareness to his students upon his return.

Richard was very proud of his military service. After returning to the United States after serving in Japan, Germany and Korea, he served in the Army Reserves in postal units in San Francisco, CA and Chicago, IL, before continuing his career path as a Colonel specializing in Defense Intelligence while living in the Chicago area. Richard was a graduate of the United States Army Command and General Staff College. He was a member of the faculty at the 5th U.S. Army Area Intelligence School, at Camp McCoy, Sparta, Wisconsin from 1972-1976. He was commander of the 486th Military Detachment and a graduate of the U.S. Army War College Class of 1979 given at Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania. He was later assigned to the 308th CA Group in Homewood, Illinois. Richard prepared and presented periods of instruction in the Tactical Intelligence Department with major emphasis on General Military subjects with special emphasis on General Intelligence, Production, and Analysis of Intelligence and Interrogation areas in over 20 subjects with over 86 plus hours of podium time and volunteered for several hours of demonstrations.

He completed many military courses over his career among them: Industrial College of Armed Forces specializing in National Security Management; USA Command and General Staff College as C&GS Officer; USA Intelligence School as MI Officer Advanced; USA Civil Affairs School as CA Officer Advanced; USA Adjutant General School as AG Officer Advanced; the Adjutant General's Corp Officer Advanced Course, the Command & General Staff Officer Course, and the National Security Management Course. He demonstrated exceptional ability, as evidenced by his selection in 1968 as the Outstanding Student of the Chicago USAR School, in recognition for which he received the Association of the U.S. Army Award. These are but a few of the courses as there are others too numerous to list.

In a summary of their reports, his superiors viewed his work as follows: "...Dalché is a dignified, astute, fastidious officer. His preparations are profound in their depth. He possesses a penetrating mind. His classroom presentations are innovative and praiseworthy. He always brings with him a treasure house of reference materials as well as a keen mind. He always is willing to assist young, less experienced instructors....Dalché is truly a dedicated, hardworking instructor, he spends many evenings preparing. He has developed a deep rapport and respect from all of the students and faculty members. He is a most loyal and dependable officer. ...Dalché is the very epitome of what one would hope for in any officer..."

His medals include: Army Commendation Medal; The Meretorious Service Medal; Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal (ARCAM); Army of Occupation Medal (Japan); United Nations Service Medal; Korean Service Medal and the National Defense Service Medal (Germany.)

He was a member of numerous associations including but not limited to: National Council of Teachers of English; American Association of Teachers of German; American Association for the Teachers of French; La Societe des Amis du Musee de l ' Armee in Paris France; Disabled Veterans of America; The Society for Military History; The Air Force Association; The Veterans of Foreign Wars; USO; Retired Officers Association; MOAA and the Military Order of the World Wars.

After Richard retired from teaching in 1990, he continued his travel adventures through the U.S.A, Canada, Europe, Central and South America, Southeast Asia, Asia, Africa, Australia and New Zealand. He joined two adventure camping groups, Guerba and Exodus, based out of London, and traveled to numerous countries pitching his tent, sleeping on the ground, cooking over an open fire and traveling in a truck through many wild and unpredictable areas of the world. Even though he caught malaria three times, he kept returning to the remotest parts of Africa. Johanna traveled with him when she could but she used to say that she had to take care of business in the real world while Richard traveled it.

They took many trips together to various parts of the world. Richard explored over 100 countries, all for non-business, and Johanna over 60. He worked hard and saved his money to go on adventures for "intellectual curiosity" he would tell people. Johanna always said that thanks to Richard she was able to see the world from the perspective of a traveler not that of a tourist. They were both proud of traveling with no devices--no phones or laptops, which proved to be a truly unique experience.

At age 77, despite not speaking Mandarin, Richard started teaching himself to read and write it and had shelves full of books, maps and train schedules in that language. His knowledge helped him when traveling throughout China. In addition, he was fluent in English, French, German and Japanese.

Johanna has such a tremendous respect for Richard who was a true intellectual with tremendous curiosity about all topics ranging from sports to all cultures of the world. He had a library of over 4,000 books in English, French, German, Japanese and Chinese; Richard seemed to have no limits on learning. He always had a book in his hand and he and Johanna would have extensive discussions on various topics. He would often tell her, "We have to see the world before it blows up." Their last trip was to Bangkok, Thailand in May 2018. After that time, it was getting too difficult for Richard to travel so they would reminisce about their numerous adventures.

Richard is survived by his wife, of 37 years, Johanna Bartosh, of Pflugerville, Texas, his cousins John Cocchiara of Shreveport, Louisiana, Wendy Tannehill (Randy) of Shreveport, Louisiana, Betsy Snow of Shreveport, Louisiana, Julie DeRouen (Marty) of Lake Charles, Louisiana, and numerous other cousins and family members.

Service and burial were on September 17, 2021 at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia.

If you wish, please donate to a charity of your choice. As Richard and Johanna would say, "Do what you enjoy in life as long as it is legal and doesn't hurt anyone. Strive to keep happy and healthy and always continue to be curious about the world."