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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.

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.

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)

Asbestos – Agent Orange

Many Tucker shipmates are suffering illnesses as a result of exposure to Asbestos on the ship. Vietnam era shipmates may have been exposed to Agent Orange while in port in Vietnam as well.

Veterans Affairs Website:

http://www.va.gov This is the main VA website, where information on benefits can be found.

http://www.va.gov/vaforms/ This is the National VA Website to get all needed VA Forms for Veterans who want to file a claim or get a VA Loan.

http://www.va.gov/vbs/bva/pamphlet.htm this website is where to order the pamphlet for a Veterans Appeals and how this works.

http://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records/get-service-records.html This is the website for a Veteran to apply for his or her DD-214 and or to get a lost medal, get your active duty records, your active duty medical or make changes to your DD-214. The form must be sent in via mail because they need a signature to verify that this is the Veteran requesting the DD-214.

Also, any family member can ask for the DD-214 if the Veteran is no longer able to or is deceased.  This is where many families get very upset because when a Veteran dies and the family cannot locate his/her DD-214, the Veteran cannot be buried at a National Cemetery or get the

VA to pay for the benefits to the Cemetery until they produce that DD-214.

Often, families DO NOT have the DD-214 available and in some cases it takes over 4 months to get the DD-214 and it's all because the Veteran DOES NOT HAVE THE DD-214 or the family members do not know where to get one until the Veteran has died.

Information on Asbestos Exposure and Mesothelioma

http://www.mesothelioma-navy.com The Mesothelioma-Navy website has a lot of information on mesothelioma (a cancer caused by asbestos exposure). It mentions the Tucker as a known exposure site.

http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Sites-Types/mesothelioma

Fact sheet on mesothelioma from the government cancer website.

http://www.marf.org Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation

http://www.asbestos.net The Asbestos Cancer and Mesothelioma Support Center. A large website with lots of information. Veteran’s info below.

http://www.asbestos.net/veterans Main page for veterans

http://www.asbestos.net/occupations/us-navy-veterans.html Page

for Navy veterans

http://www.asbestos.net/occupations/sailors-and-deckhands.html

Another page for Navy veterans

http://www.thejohnmcnamarafoundation.org The John McNamara Foundation website has a lot of information about Asbestosis. Click on “Workplace Asbestos Exposure Locations” and click on the selection box, click on US Navy ships. You’ll find the Tucker listed as a known exposure site.

Information on Agent Orange

http://www.ffrd.org/agentorange.htm Fund for Reconciliation and Development: This website has many links to information about Agent Orange. A lot of it is about the exposure of the Vietnamese people to it, but there are some aimed at US veterans.

http://www.navytimes.com/news/2008/08/military_prostatecancer_agentorange_080508w/

Article from an August 2008 issue of Navy Times about a study linking prostate cancer to Agent Orange exposure.

http://www.usvetdsp.com/agentorange.htm Article from the November 1990 issue of The U.S. Veteran Dispatch

Please visit this page often. More information and links will be added as they become available. We welcome shipmates to contribute information for this page.

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USS Henry W. Tucker
DD 875