[Jet]

Very moving, Theo. Great post!!

Ten-hut!
*Saluting Sgt. Maj. Tucker in memoriam, sir!*

Originally Posted by theoddz

This is a wonderful recording of a lecture given by Eugene Sledge, who is portrayed in "The Pacific". In this interview, he talks about "The Old Breed". This is what we Marines call the Marines who fought in WW2. By the way, I love hearing Eugene Sledge's Southern drawl. It makes me feel like I'm back home in Savannah, GA.

As I listened to this, my thoughts went back to Sgt.Maj. Leo Tucker, who fought with the 1st Marine Division during the War in The Pacific, specifically at the battle of Iwo Jima. Sgt.Maj. Tucker was a patient of mine, last November, at the VA hospital where I work. He retired after 28 years and an illustrious career. He is one of the many heroes I've had the distinct honor of caring for, in my career working for the Dept. of Veterans Affairs. Sgt.Maj. had everyone baffled, because at 84 years old, and with multiple serious medical problems going on, he refused to give up. Being a Marine myself, I knew why he didn't. As I watch The Pacific, and the battles portrayed in that miniseries (Guadalcanal, Peleliu, Iwo Jima and Okinawa...Tarawa was another horrific battle, though not portrayed in the miniseries), I know why "Top" didn't give up. He'd faced death before and just didn't give up.

Anyway, I want to post this for Sgt.Maj. Leo Tucker, as he now stands his watch on the streets of Heaven. This is for you, Top, so that others will know just what it took, and what kind of men and women won this war. Heroes all.



Semper Fi,
~Theo~