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<em>Coral Max Talbott</em> was born to Mrs. C.E. Talbott in Peoria, Illinois on 7 September 1914, the oldest of four children, two boys and two girls. As a youngster he attended the public schools of Peoria, graduated from Peoria Central High School in the Class of 1932, and attended Bradley College for one year, 1932-33.</p>
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A year later he was appointed to West Point by Representative E. M. Dirksen of the 11th District of Illinois. As Max’s roommate wrote of him in the 1938 <em>Howitzer</em>, “Max started at a distinct disadvantage. It seems that the Academic Department has a particular dislike for the word ‘max.’ Despite this, he successfully ran the gauntlet and set the Academic Department down hard.” After two years of wearing cadet stripes, Max rejoined his friends as a member of the Grand Order of First Class Bucks.</p>
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At graduation Max was assigned to the 6th Infantry Regiment at Jefferson Barracks, Missouri. He served there and at Little Rock, Arkansas, where he met Eloise Ferdon.</p>
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Max and Eloise planned a fall 1940 wedding, but events overtook them. Max had volunteered for service in the Philippines, but the War Department, ever-cooperative in the career wishes of its lieutenants, acceded rather more rapidly than anticipated. The wedding date was quickly advanced to 11 June 1940, and they immediately sailed for Manila.</p>
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On arrival, 1st Lieutenant Max was assigned as executive officer of Company K, 31st Infantry Regiment. In August 1941 he was promoted to captain and given command of the company. Eloise, meanwhile, like so many other dependents, had been evacuated in May 1941.</p>
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The Japanese attack in December 1941 found Max leading his company in the defense of the Philippines. He participated in the Bataan campaign and was awarded the Silver Star medal for his heroic actions during a nine-day delaying action which was credited with stopping the Japanese onslaught in his sector. According to the regimental records, Max later received another Silver Star citation. His company was in the worst of the fight and suffered the heaviest casualties of any company in the regiment.</p>
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Subsequent to the Bataan Death March, Max was confined in the infamous Cabanatuan Prison. He died there of cerebral malaria on 21 July 1942.</p>
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His career was a short one, but it was one of which his family and his classmates can be proud. We can be sure that “it would play in Peoria.”</p>
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<em>A classmate</em></p>