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 ...
Washington State prayers coming your way.
May God Bless your family. I could not imagine how hard this must be on the people that knew Tommy. It sounds like he was one great guy.
God Bless your family. We will never forget!
(just practicing here) to see if I can make it hot (if you don't use any other html in your post, the link will show up hot
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1653559/posts
thanks blu.
I agree with leadpenny - it felt like a sucker punch to all of us. Your family's sacrifice is not taken for granted. I'm so sorry for your loss.
May God bless and comfort you and all those who knew and loved your cousin. He was and will always be a hero, in the truest sense of the word. Every American, and now Iraqi, owes a great debt to those who are willing to shed their own blood and give their life to pay for the liberty of others.
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