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PM3 Henry Warren
Tucker
1919 - 1942 |
| Our ship was named in honor of PM3
Henry Warren Tucker of York, Alabama, USNR. He was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross
for heroism during the Battle of the Coral Sea, 7 May 1942. |
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| Tucker was called to active duty in
July, 1941, and reported to the Naval Hospital at Pensacola, Florida. On 15 January 1942, Tucker reported aboard the
tanker USS Neosho (AO-23) for duty. The Neosho had survived the Pearl
Harbor attack despite being berthed on "Battleship Row."
During the opening phase of the Battle of
the Coral Sea, Japanese naval forces launched an all-out aerial attack on what they
believed was the main U.S. battle force. What the Japanese found instead was the Neosho
and destroyer USS Sims (DD-409) waiting at a refueling rendezvous.
Facing a 60-plane attack, the fate of the
two American ships was never in doubt. The Sims exploded and sank immediately
with a loss of almost the entire crew. Despite its cargo of burning aviation gas and fuel
oil. the Neosho managed to remain afloat for awhile. |
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| For his actions during the sinking of
the Neosho, Tucker was awarded the Navy Cross. The citation
reads as follows: "For
extraordinary heroism and distinguished service in the line of his professionalism
following the attack on the USS Neosho by enemy Japanese aerial forces on 7 May
1942.
"With complete disregard for his own
life, Tucker swam between the various life rafts carrying tannic acid in his hands to
treat the burns of the injured men.
"He hazarded the dangers of exposure
and exhaustion to continue his task, helping the injured to boats but refusing a place for
himself.
"Tucker was subsequently reported as
missing in action and it is believed he lost his life in his loyal and courageous devotion
to duty.
His valorous actions enhance and sustain
the finest traditions of the United States Naval Service."
U.S. Department of the Navy
(1942) |
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| The USS Henry W. Tucker DD 875 was commissioned
on 12 March 1945 in Orange, Texas and served continuously until 3 December 1973. In
December 1973, the ship was transferred to the Brazilian Navy where she served as the
Marcilio Dias D25 until 1992. The Marcilio
Dias was decommissioned in 1992. In 1993, she was sunk as a target for a Brazilian
made torpedo fired from the first Brazilian built submarine.
Our ship was named in honor of PM3 Henry Warren Tucker
who was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross for heroism during the Battle of the Coral
Sea, 7 May 1942. |
| The San Diego Reunion was held November 7-10, 2002 and
was very well attended. There were approximately 175 shipmates and attendance at the
banquet was almost 300. The next reunion will be
held in the Fall of 2004 in Charleston SC. As we get information on exact dates, hotel and
events, they will be posted here. |
| Please visit the Crew List, Memorial List,
Missing Crew List and Commanding
Officers (1945-1973) List... If you are on the
Crew List, please verify that your information is correct and let us know of any
corrections. If you know anyone who has passed away and isn't on the Memorial List, please contact us. If you know the
whereabouts of anyone on the Missing Crew List, please contact us.
Hugh
Plymouth "Plymie" Shedd...
We have received an e-mail from the son of Hugh Plymouth
Shedd saying that his father had been aboard HWT, at least in 1945. Please click on his
name to view letters he wrote home while aboard the USS Ajax and HWT. He was a musician
who played in the USS Ajax band and may have played music aboard HWT. If anyone
remembers him or anything about him, please contact us. His son would very much like to
hear from you. |
| Please sign the guestbook.Please keep your messages
brief as there is a limit on message size. Also, please look through the current guestbook
and the archived guestbooks. Sign Guestbook
View Guestbook
Guestbook Archive #1
Guestbook Archive #2
Guestbook Archive #3
Message
Board
One of our Brazilian shipmates signed the guestbook
recently – in Portuguese. We were extremely happy to hear from Antonio Fernandes de
Souza and hope to hear from others as well. Mike McDermott was good enough to provide a
translation.
"I served for five years aboard the Destroyer Marcilio
Dias. They were marvelous years, principally in knowing that I was aboard a ship
which had previously given outstanding service to the U.S. Navy." |
| Our Web site is maintained by Pat Siler, wife of Bill
Siler, BT3, 62-63, with assistance from Bob
Miller, MM3, 62-65, and Bob's son Bobby. Pat also compiles the regular USS
Henry W. Tucker Newsletter. We all thank Pat, Bob and Bobby for the tremendous
work that they put into our activities. The
original USS Henry W. Tucker Reunion Web site was created by Terry Williams, SK3,
69-71. We all owe a debt of gratitude to Terry. If he hadn't created this site in 1997,
there would be no reunions and most of us would be still wondering whatever happened to
the ship and our shipmates. Due to business obligations, Terry had to step down from his
position as webmaster in 2002. We will find it difficult to fill his shoes, but will try
to maintain Terry's high standards.
The current second generation of our Web site was created
in 2003 by Kevin B. Skislock, son of John F. "Jack" Skislock, SN1/c, 45-47. |
USS Henry W. Tucker
DD 875 |
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