USS HENRY W TUCKER HISTORY * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * USS Henry W. Tucker DD/R 875 Commissioned - 12 March 1945 Decommissioned - 3 December 1973 WWII ~ Korea ~ Viet Nam “Mighty T” “Steamin’ T” “Have Gun Will Travel” “Happy Hank” “Tuck’s Tavern” Includes the history of the C.T. Marcilio Dias D-25, 1973 – 1994 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 1 USS HENRY W TUCKER HISTORY * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * This History is dedicated to the officers and men who served on the USS Henry W. Tucker DD/R 875, as well as to all who served in the U.S. Navy. ~ Especially those who were fortunate enough to serve on ~ “TIN CANS” - The Workhorses of the Navy. The information assembled here was obtained from many of the crew themselves or their families. It contains personal recollections, excerpts from various naval documents and the result of extensive Web research. In no way are the details in this History meant to deceive or be taken as Official U.S. Naval History. The facts contained herein are our attempt at preserving the history of this remarkable ship and her crew. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS -- Although many shipmates have contributed to this document I'd like to particularly thank the following for their contributions. LCDR Eugene M. Hall James Sadler C.O. 72-73 (Author of “WESTPAC”) (Final Commanding Officer ) YN2 68-69 LCDR Harry Kinsley Bob Miller X.O. 64-65 MM3 62-65 Paul Machart Tom Byrne YN3 62-65 RM2 60-62 Bill Siler & His wife Pat Mike McDermott BT3 62-64 LTJG 68-69 This continues to be a work in progress; Errors and omissions are to be expected. Editor Gary T. O’Neil ET3 63–66 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 2 USS HENRY W TUCKER HISTORY 1 -- THE MAN - PhM3 Henry Warren Tucker Battle of Coral Sea – 1942 The Navy Cross and Purple Heart 2 – HISTORY Of The USS Henry W. Tucker The Ship’s Origins 1944 Plank Owner Listing 3 -- HISTORY OF THE USS Henry W. Tucker 1945 – 1949 OPERATION SANDSTONE - Enewetok Atomic Testing 4 -- HISTORY OF THE USS Henry W. Tucker 1949 – 1962 The Korean War 5 -- HISTORY OF THE USS Henry W. Tucker 1963 – 1972 The Vietnam War 6 – HISTORY OF THE USS Henry W. Tucker 1972 – 1973 Addition of Chaparral Missile system Overall TUCKER statistics and Medals 7 – HISTORY OF THE USS Henry W. Tucker 1973 - 1994 The Ship in Brazil – C.T. Marcilio Dias (D-25) 3 USS HENRY W TUCKER HISTORY Section 1 -- THE MAN - PhM3 Henry Warren Tucker 1919 – 1942 Our ship was named in honor of Pharmacist's mate third class Henry Warren Tucker, United States Naval Reserve, who was born in Birmingham, Alabama on 5 October 1919. He enlisted in the United States Naval Reserve on 24 June 1941. TUCKER was called to active duty in July 1941, and reported for duty and assigned to the US Naval Hospital in Pensacola Florida. On 15 January 1942, he reported on board a tanker, the USS Neosho (AO-23) for duty. The NEOSHO had survived the Pearl Harbor attack despite being berthed on “Battleship Row”. For five months the Neosho fueled fighting ships all over the Pacific. On 7 May 1942, five months to the day after the crushing attack at Pearl Harbor. In the company of the Destroyer USS Sims (DD-409), she was to meet the carriers of her task force a few hundred miles off the Australian coast. Captain Phillips had received a coded message that the Japanese were near at hand in heavy force. What the Captain could not know for radio silence was that the battle of the Coral Sea was here and now, and his ship was between the opposing fleets. The Imperial Japanese Navy was at the peak of its success. The United States was striving desperately to regroup and regain the advantage. The USS Neosho (AO-23), a U.S. fleet oiler, steamed restlessly, her men alert for the sudden deadly appearance of the flashing wing displaying the fire-like sun symbol. And it came... During the opening phase of the battle of the Coral Sea, Japanese naval forces launched an aerial attack on what they believed was the main U.S. battle force. What the Japanese found instead was the NEOSHO and the destroyer USS Sims (DD-409) waiting for a fueling 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 a while because some of the fuel tanks were empty and their buoyancy kept the oiler afloat. NEOSHO attempted numerous maneuvers but could not avoid what was inevitable. She was hit, and hit again, and again. Fires blazed uncontrolled. She heeled slowly. Her life was ebbing as the Pacific waters invaded her. The order to abandon ship was given and the remaining crew, many of them horribly wounded went over the side. On her canting decks, men scrambled in desperation to free the life rafts. Others jumped. Still others fell. The surrounding waters were a turmoil of burning oil, debris, and shouting, struggling humanity. Many men were afflicted with searing burns received on board or in the water, suffering unbearably. 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 braved 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. 4 USS HENRY W TUCKER HISTORY For his actions during this attack and the subsequent sinking of the NEOSHO, Henry Warren Tucker was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart and the Navy Cross, one of the highest tributes that can be paid by his country. The Navy Cross Henry Warren Tucker The Purple Heart The Navy Cross 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 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.” For the President Frank Knox Secretary of the Navy Class: Gearing 5 USS HENRY W TUCKER HISTORY Section 2 -- HISTORY Of The USS HENRY W. TUCKER - The Ship’s Origins Consolidated Steel Corporation in Orange, Texas laid the keel of the Henry W. Tucker (DD-875) on 29 May 1944. The TUCKER was launched on 8 November 1944. In 1940, Consolidated Steel had a small fabrication yard in Orange Texas when the Navy contracted with them to expand it into a yard capable of building surface combatants. At its peak, the Consolidated Steel Orange yard employed 20,000 people. Between the years 1942 and 1945, among many other ships, the yard fabricated 100 Edsall class Destroyer Escorts, 12 Fletcher class Destroyers, and 27 Gearing class destroyers. Consolidated tried to launch a ship every Saturday! The ship launched would be not much more than the major components, and a Tug would immediately tow the ship to a pier to be outfitted. Upon completion of the outfitting, the ship would then be ready for commissioning and her shakedown cruise. Almost the entire town would turn out to watch the "splashing" of a new ship. Some of the workers would “ride” the ship to the water, while others would watch from the viewing area. Just prior to each launch, women with a bucket full of pig fat would smear it on each of the skids to help the ship slide into the Sabine river. Now you know the meaning of the phrase "grease the skids." After the war the yard reverted to being a fabricator and was for many years a division of U.S. Steel. It is now a shipyard again, as a division of Signal International. Shown is a recent map of the Orange Texas shipyard. Note the street marked “E. Destroyer Pier Rd”. The old launching piers are now either gone or in disrepair, but one of these were the original birthplace of the USS Henry W. Tucker (DD-875). NOTE: The commissioning ceremony was held at the city docks about a mile down stream, after the ship was outfitted, NOT at the launching pier. 12 March 1944, while the TUCKER was being constructed, CDR B. H. MEYER, USN, was assigned to become the TUCKER’s first commanding officer. 6 USS HENRY W TUCKER HISTORY THERE WERE OTHER SHIPS NAMED TUCKER The first USS Tucker (DD-57) was the lead ship of her class of destroyers. The ship was named after Commodore Samuel Tucker, USN, who was a famous Captain during the American Revolution. She was commissioned 11 April 1916 and served in the U.S. Navy until 16 May 1921. In 1926 this ship was transferred to the U.S. Coast Guard where she served until 5 June 1933.