I will be lighting a candle during Mass.
One candle lit in Hammonton, NJ for your cousin.
Posted on 06/21/2006 2:01:58 AM PDT by beaversmom
MADRAS, Ore. — Two days before Army Pfc. Thomas Lowell Tucker disappeared in Iraq, he called friends to let them know his unit would be searching vehicles in an increasingly violent part of the country and he would be out of telephone and Internet contact.
"He just kind of told me that it was going to be dangerous," said Margee Hagedorn, Tucker's friend since middle school. "But he told me he was probably going to be going on a little vacation after he got back."
Instead, Tucker, 25, an Army infantryman based at Fort Campbell, Ky., and Pfc. Kristian Menchaca disappeared and another soldier, David Babineau, was killed Friday at a military checkpoint in the "Triangle of Death," south of Baghdad.
In Madras — an agricultural community of about 5,000 north of Bend — friends and family rallied around Tucker's parents, Wes and Meg Tucker.
"The family has come to the realization that Tom has gained a much larger family through this ordeal than he had when he left home to go help to free the Iraqi people and protect his country from the threat of terrorism," they said.
At the family's house southwest of town, six large flags were anchored in the close-cropped lawn and fluttered beside antique farm equipment as Jefferson County sheriff's deputies guarded the driveway.
The family declined interviews but released a recording of a phone message Tucker left on their answering machine in February, shortly before he deployed: "Be proud of me, Mom. I'm defending my country. Tell Sis and my nephews hello for me, I'm OK, I'm on my way."
Tucker was born in Prineville and grew up in Madras with his sister, Tayva. He loved music and played the piano, the family said.
Friends described "Tommy" Tucker as outgoing and strong-willed. "He was...
(Excerpt) Read more at seattletimes.nwsource.com ...
May God bless and keep our brave Soldiers and their families. May His vengeance on their killers be swift and without mercy.
God bless him and his family. Somewhere out there, there are some smiling Democrat leaders and MSM journalists.
Every time I go into my local post office I stop at the bulletin board where photographs of our people serving in uniform are posted and wonder what each one of them is doing at that moment in time...
Sometimes I can picture them brushing their teeth or standing watch... other times I can sense their fears and the rage of battle as I remember what it was like wearing a uniform. All I can do is whisper to myself they stay alert, follow their training and not hesitate when the dung hits the fan...
God bless the deputies guarding the driveway. I'm glad to hear that....
This, too, is good to know.
We are proud of you young man. Rest now.
Hello Everyone who is posting to this story. First I would like to introduce myself. My name is Laura Anderson and I am Tommy Tuckers cousin who lives in Portland, Or. I am so grateful that so many people from all over the world have been so supportive of my families loss. This was definately our worst fear. I know that on friday the city of madras is going to have a candle light vigil so please all who are supportive please lite a candle to honor all the soldiers who have fought for us and lost their lives. If you can pass that information on so we can have candles lit world wide I would be so grateful.
It's so hard to deal with this. Rage, frustration, grief, mourning, prayers. It's boiling underneath, all the time. Well, God will carry us through. Lighting a candle sounds like a very good idea. God bless your family.
I would just like to add to my last line in the previous post "Thanks for coming to FR." Only I wish it was under different circumstances.
I will be lighting a candle during Mass.
One candle lit in Hammonton, NJ for your cousin.
Please know this has been like a punch in the gut to many, many people. Prayers to you and your family.
Please know there are thousands upon thousands of Americans who have walked through this with you in prayer...who have stopped during the days since Friday and wondered, worried ..then raged and grieved at the loss of your cousin and his comrade. They will not be forgotten, nor will you..
Your cousin has our undying respect..love and gratitude.
Screaming Eagle Mom
If you do- please ping me. Thanks
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1653559/posts
in remembrance...
Thank you, Laura.
You are among friends here at FR.
The recent disclosure of Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) discovered in Iraq offers an opportunity for all of us.
The brave warriors in Iraq, and those that made the ultimate sacrifice, deserve an honorable and lasting legacy.
Let us resolve to ensure the Liberal scumbags do not get away with tarnishing the mission to Iraq by spreading the lie that there were no WMD.
None of our men and women in uniform died in vain, and history will record that the Iraq War saved Democracy on Earth.
thanks:)
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