Talk:Newell Tarrant

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[edit] He can't be dead, Jim

I think the IMDB is wrong about this man's Date of Birth (which is why I didn't put it in the article. If he was born in 1911, he would have been pushing 76 when Star Trek IV was made. Commander Rogerson didnt look like he was 76 years old. Someone with knowledge of the IMDB (I havent submitted to them in over a year) should look into how to correct this. -FleetCaptain 05:18, 5 June 2007 (UTC)

I was wondering about that, actually. I checked the SSDI, and there is an "L N Tarrant" born on 28 Feb 1911 and died 27 Jan 2000. That's apparently supposed to be this Tarrant. But you're right, he certainly doesn't look to be in his 70s, and IMDb has been known to be wrong many times in the past. I'll contact IMDb soon and ask them to confirm the dates. In the meantime, I'll check around on the web and see if I find anything there. --From Andoria with Love 05:46, 5 June 2007 (UTC)

PS: Wish I had seen this before I added his "birthdate" and "deathdate" to all those pages. :P --From Andoria with Love 05:48, 5 June 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Who is this guy

Got word today that the Department of Veterans Affairs has no record of a Newell Tarrant with service in the Navy. I wonder if he served under another name (the link above suggests he was really a Naval officer). Time to do some sniff around somemore. -FleetCaptain 16:27, 10 September 2007 (UTC)

I know this guy and he did not serve in the Navy under another name. Your research is faulty. He did serve in the U.S. Navy as a Navel Flight Officer (NFO) not to be confused with a Naval Aviator who actually flies the plane. NFOs are second seaters.So please try to correct this error. He is definitely not 76 years old!!! -User:D.D.18 October 2007 (posted by 192.234.90.30)

No, my research isnt faulty; I'm not saying he didnt serve, only that no one can verify it. I have talked to both the Department of Veterans Affairs and the National Personnel Records Center. Neither has a record on this actor. If we had his social security number, that would be a sure fire way to verify it with the Department of the Navy. But, since that is protected by the Privacy Act, there is little chance of getting it posted on a website, or even getting it at all. -FleetCaptain 16:09, 1 December 2007 (UTC)

[edit] The Navy never heard of him

I got a response to a Freedom of Information Act request where Navy Personnel Command in Millington, Tennessee stated they dont have an officer named Newell Tarrant listed in the military personnel locater system or on the retired lists of officers drawing retired pay. I have no doubt this man was in the Navy, this is just very curious. His Social Security Number would solve everything, since Veterans Affairs can plug it into their computer and reference it to a DD-214. That would be kind of hard to get though.

Does anyone have direct contact with this actor? Or any way to get a hold of him? If so, I can have him fill out a form to the VA and NPRC which would release public information about him and thus verify his service. It wouldnt be to discredit him or anything like that, just confirm his service (and then only the part which is releasable to the public) and honor him on this and many other websites for his impressive career. -FC 13:42, 13 May 2008 (UTC)

EVERYTHING NEWELL SAYS IS TRUE! I don't know why you are so suspicious and nosy but I dated Newell for several years while he was an officer at Mira Mesa Naval Air Base. I met his CO and squadron members and attended events at the base. Maybe Newell was his middle name and his service record is under his birth first name but I never heard him addressed by the CO or anyone in the Navy as anyone but Newell. He may have wanted to use his father's name who he admired and was a wonderful man. His father was Newell Tarrant, actor, stage director, and had run the Hawaii Film Commission who died in 2000. Newell and I met while doing a play together and he was prominent in many theatre productions in San Diego. He served in Viet Nam exactly as he says he did. He lives in Fallbrook, CA I think, north of San Diego. -Anon Contrib, March 2009

I don't like to be nosy and butt into others' arguments, but, Fleet Captain is a pretty (very) knowledgeable guy, particularly when it comes to the U.S. Navy. Furthermore he isn't making an attack, he's just trying to point out that verification is needed here, maybe your info will help. Interestingly enough, My Commander's last name is also Newell, probably unrelated right? — Vince47 04:58, 25 March 2009 (UTC)

I would say there is no doubt that this actor was a real Commander in the Navy. His biography published on the backs of his novels back this up as do the production notes of ST:IV. What is of interest, is that the name "Newell Tarrant" doesn't show up in the registry computers for the Department of Veterans Affairs, the National Personnel Records Center, or the Naval Personnel Command. As stated previously, a social security # would positively identify the man, but that would be hard to get. If anyone has any contact with him, leave a note on my talk page. I will provide "real world" contact information for myself which will prove my identity as both a military historian and U.S. naval officer. This is not about discrediting him, exactly the opposite. I want to veriy his military service to honor his achievements both in the military and in Star Trek film. -FC 16:41, 27 March 2009 (UTC)

I added in a paragraph about his situation in the main article. I added an "incite tag" since I plan to scan in the letter I have from the Navy saying no officer by this name appears on their roles. I ask no one revert or delete what I added until then (should be done by the end of the weekend at the latest). -FC 16:48, 27 March 2009 (UTC)

This may be a clue for you all: His first name is Yancey. So the Navy may show him as Yancey N. Tarrant or Y. Newell Tarrant. We attended the University of Iowa together in the early '60's, so he must now be about 65 or 66 years old. See where this leads. James Loren 12 July 2009

And there he is on the Navy Locater Personnel list! -FC 13:11, 15 July 2009 (UTC)