Action Taken: From Strategic Deterrent to Arc Light – The Storied Career of the B-52
Stephen Tucker is a United States Marine. He served on active duty from March, 1966 until September, 1970.
He was designated as Naval Aviator in Sept., 1967. From February 1968 until March 1969, he served in The Republic of Vietnam as a Marine helicopter pilot attached to HMM-364 and MAG-36. He participated in the Battle of Hue City, The Battle of Hai Van Pass, and the Battle of Khe Sanh during the Tet Offensive of 1968.
The rest of his tour was in daily support of U.S. Military actions in the I Corps of the RVN.
Upon returning home, he was assigned to NAS Pensacola as an Instructor Pilot in Advanced Instruments.
September of 1970, he was released from active duty at the rank of Captain.
Steven has been an active member in the Freedom Committee of Orange County. Their mission is “Passing the Torch of Freedom on to Future Generations”, in Middle Schools, High Schools, and Colleges. The task is to present personal military and life experiences so students may understand about the price and sacrifice of those who have given all for the freedom of America as well as others pursuing freedom around the world.
Stephen has a short, but meaningful, history of a family member serving in the U.S. Military. His father is also a Marine serving in 1944-45 as a rifleman. He participated in the Battle for Iwo Jima. He fought there for 10 days until severely wounded and evacuated. It took a year for him to completely recover from his wounds at Farragut Navy Hospital inside Farragut Naval Training Station near Coeur d’ Alene, Idaho.
Capt. Tucker’s military awards include: Presidential Unit Citation, Vietnamese Campaign Medal w/device, 17 Air Medals s/f Awards, Navy Achievement Medal w/Combat “V”, Vietnam Service Medal w/4 Stars, Navy Commendation Medal w/Combat “V”, Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry w/palm and frame.
