Veteran’s
This year I would like to share the abbreviated story of Sgt.Robert Welsey Tucker
Members of his family are campers at Deep Valley and just wonderful people.
Wesley was born Aug, 1985 in Cookeville , TN. He was a 2003 graduate of Celina, Tn.
He was assigned to the Army National Guard’s 3rd Squadron, 278th Armored Cavalry Regiment, Jamestown, TN. He Died on October 13, 2005 in Iraq
Spc. Robert Wesley Tucker, 20, of Hilham, TN, died near Ad Dujayl, Iraq, when an improvised explosive device (IED) struck his Humvee during combat operations The incident occurred after the soldiers received word that another patrol had been hit by an IED several miles away. Sgt. Tucker, three other soldiers and an Iraqi national interpreter, had been sent out to assist. Sgt Tucker drove the vehicle and was thrown on impact. His death came less than two weeks before he was scheduled to return home.
Wesley had married his high school sweetheart and they had a beautiful daughter before he shipped out. While in that country, Wesley did what he could for the local children. At Wesley’s request, his family in Tennessee sent toys for those children.
In an interview after Wesley’s death his mother Kim was quoted as saying “He loved the kids. He’d give them food and call and tell me, ‘Momma, go buy them some toys, some Matchbox cars’, and I would.” “He saw one man drinking out of a mud puddle, so Wes gave him water. I’m just so proud that God gave him to me.”
Sgt. Tucker is buried on his family’s property in Hilham, Tn. The County Highway Department, where he had worked in civilian life, built a road to the Sgt. Tucker Cemetery.
Each year there is a Memorial Motorcycle Ride around Dale Hollow Lake. The proceeds from this ride were set up to honor Sgt. Wesley Tucker’s family and to give back to Celina in the form of a scholarship.
Unfortunately, Wesley is not the only area soldier to die in Irag , Afghanistan or the other world wide locations where our military personnel protect us all.
Remember Them All and their families. Honor Them All. Their gift to us is the Freedom we enjoy.
