GONE, BUT NOT FORGOTTEN
SSG TOMAS C. TUCKER
Home of Record: Chattanooga, TN
Date of Birth: June 19, 1943
Sex: Male
Race: Negro
Marital Status: Single
Branch: U.S. Army Special Forces
Serial Number: 411644475
Component: Regular
Posthumous promotion as indicated
Pay Grade: E-5
MOS: 11F4S
Start of Tour: Tuesday, April 22, 1969
Date of Casualty: Saturday, November 8, 1969
Age at time of loss: 26
Casualty type: (A1) Artillery, rocket, mortar(Ground
casualty)
Country: South Viet Nam
Province: Kien Giang
The Wall: Panel 16W-Row 048
On approximately November 4, 1969, the IV Corps Mike
Force was called upon to take Nui Coto (known as the "Rock Pile of IV Corps")
back from the enemy. The CIDG Post on top was over-ran by the North Vietnamese
Army.
We made it, after an all day climb to the top of the
mountain, and during the climb up, several of our Strikers were killed
and wounded. The Commanding Officer of your Battalion of the IV Corps Mike
Force (can't remember his name), and you took your men up to take
the high ground; it was up to SFC Hugh's and I to take the lower part of
the that section of the mountain. We all were resting after the trip up
the mountain (Nui), and one the strikers put his head up too high, and
a sniper from down below killed him with a head shot.
After careful recon of the area below it was determined
that the best approach would be to go to the left of where the sniper was
safely hidden in the rocks at the edge of the mountain, and I was chosen
to lead the strikers from A-402, since I was yet unproven in Combat (only
in-country less than two months at this time).
About 50 strikers and I went to the left and found
a place to climb down to the lower level, where the sniper was hidden.
Once we were in place I radioed that we were about to move. I tried to
urge the strikers out of the rocks, but they shook their heads and pointed
to me. Without really any conscious thought, except for "sometimes a leader
has to Lead", I pulled my little radio man (a Cambodian) out with me and started running
toward the rocks, at least 150 yards away. This part is unclear, but in
my memory, there was at least two more NVA that came out of a hole to
the left of the where the sniper was now trying to fire at me and my strikers.
I really didn't think it was any big deal, because I had
complete faith in you, SFC Hugh's, the Captain and all of your strikers
to lay down an effective base of fire. I could see the rounds hitting the
ground and rocks where the NVA were, and it made them take cover. It seems
to last only a few minutes, and we were there, safe and dropping grenades
into the many caves and tunnels.
After it was over, we all met at the top in some rocks,
and we combined everything we had to make a "cup of coffee"; that included
coffee, creamer, sugar, and bullion cubes. It tasted wonderful, and we
all had a drink out of the warm cup. Then SFC
Hugh's and I went down to the bottom, where our strikers had set up a FOB,
and found a deep comfortable cave in the rocks; you and the Captain stayed
up on top in the rocks.
In the morning, or early afternoon of November 8th
we started receiving 82 mm mortar fire. It was heavy for awhile, and we
stayed in our cave. After a few hours (minutes??), when it stopped, we
received a call on the radio that you and the Captain had been hit, trying
to counter mortar. By the time Hugh's and I got up there, you were med-evaced,
and I never saw you again. But I've never forgotten, and neither will America.
(Note: I've changed the name of the Mountain several times because when I was trying bring back the memories of this action. My early correspondence led me to believe that it couldn't been Nui Coto. Nui Coto was the most famous or infamous of the mountain in the 7 Mountains area of the Mekong Delta.
But after more research just recently (October 1999), and more contact from various other Members of the "Elite" IV Corps Mike Force, I am almost positive it was in fact Nui Coto. All the Mountains of the 7 Mountains (except those in Cambodia) are in Chau Doc Province. SSG Tucker is listed as being KIA in Kien Giang Province. Looking at some printouts of some maps I've found on the Internet, the only mountain close to that province is Nui Coto, so I am assuming our logistics and support was in Kien Giang Province, which is only about a mile West/Northwest/Southwest of Nui Coto!
The reason I have to know where SSG Tucker was killed, is because if no one remembers, his death will be meaningless. It is up to me to let America know that he was a MAN, and he was doing his job, where the American People sent us. "The American People elected the President, not the military! It was the American People who lost the War, NOT the military! They lost heart! The Military did as we were ordered. Even though the Military Leaders and Politicians knew it was hopeless; unless the Politicians just left us alone, to do our job. They didn't, and the American People lost the War, NOT the Military!")
I SALUTE YOU, YOU WERE ONE OF AMERICA'S BEST.
