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MEMORIAL ARTICLE
Published Assembly Jan '53
Frank Beckwith Tucker NO. 15766 CLASS OF 1946 Killed
In Action, September 29, 1951, in Korea, aged 27 years |
Frank Beckwith Tucker was born the third child of Eloise Beckwith
Tucker and John Randolph Tucker in Welch, West Virginia, on August
16, 1924. His childhood, full of devilment and happiness, carried
him through Sewanee Military Academy, graduating cum laude, and
one year at the University of Virginia, to West Point in July
1943. Frank, or "Taffy" as he was affectionately called
by his classmates, became well known throughout the class for
his sincere friendliness and his exceptional running prowess
on the Cross-Country team, which he captained during his First
Class year to win the IC4A Meet, and the Indoor and Outdoor Track
teams where he bettered many a good man in the two-mile race.
He won the Major "A" and the Minor "A", in
addition to other letters and awards.
At graduation he selected the Infantry as his branch. His
love of people and his ability to work with men made his choice
as natural as his selection of the Army as his career. At the
completion of the Basic Course at Fort Benning he took parachute
training with a large number of' his classmates, and was assigned
to the 511th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 11th Airborne Division,
serving in the occupation of Japan. The Airborne supplanted running
as his primary interest. When his Division was transferred to
Camp Campbell, Kentucky, in the Spring of 1949, he returned with
the 511th and remained with that regiment until he was ordered
to Korea in late December 1950. While at Fort Campbell he met
and fell in love with Cary Randolph Marshall of Winchester, Virginia,
and they were married in Winchester on October 21, 1950. He brought
his new bride to their first home in Clarksville, Tennessee and
they were the happiest of couples. Randy quite captivated the
hearts of all who met her. However their honeymoon ended when,
after ten weeks together, Taffy was sent to Korea.
During the eight years that we knew Taffy, we went through
a great deal with him that we won't forget easily. His many escapades
will be revived whenever a group of us get together and reminisce.
None of us at Benning will ever forget his experiences with his
airplane and his automobile. His daring in the Pioneer Free-Fall
Club at Fort Campbell is legendary. He was the main organizer
of this group of dare-devils, and his feats were outstanding
to even the oldest jumper. But he will be remembered for many
other and more serious things, chief of these being his friendliness.
The most valued thing in his life was a friend. He would go out
of his way to make one and no one who knew him could ever turn
his friendship away. If he ever heard of anyone who didn't care
for him, he would seek him out and win him over with as great
a fervor as a Biblical shepherd looking for a lost sheep. The
people who knew him knew a man of many parts: athlete, musician,
artist, and soldier; avid reader of philosophy, military writers,
great literary works, and religion; consoler and sympathizer.
Not only did he study a musical instrument . . . he learned the
history of music and studied the lives of the great composers.
He not only read fine books . . . he could quote from the widest
latitude of literature. Taffy never did anything half way. He
may not have always succeeded in reaching perfection, but he
was never criticized for lack of energy or willingness to cheerfully
carry to completion any assignment given him or any goal he desired.
He was often given distasteful assignments by his seniors, who
knew he would succeed where others would not, due to the nature
of the job. His enthusiasm won him the praise of all his commanders.
His men not only loved him, they would brag openly if they were
in his platoon, company, or in any way associated with him.
Taffy had a great faith in God and His Justice, yet worshiped
God in his own way. He was too big-hearted not to be a religious
man and his sense of charity and brotherly love were not exceeded
by very many men. He was also a fine soldier. His loyalty to
his superiors, whoever they were, his devotion to his men and
associates, his sense of justice, and his great courage are all
well known. He was not afraid of any physical danger or any act
or conviction which he thought was right. He was often criticized
for his frankness, honesty, and willingness to speak his piece,
but only by men not endowed with his moral courage. It was always
a pleasure to be near him. One minute the boy—full of impetuous
exuberance . . . the next a man, mature far beyond his years.
He will be long remembered as both the boy and the man.
Taffy was always cheerful but seldom really content or satisfied.
Randy completed his dreams and made him truly happy. As his sweetheart
and his wife she gave him the completeness of' life for which
he seemed to have always been searching. Yet when duty called
him to combat he left willingly— not resenting the Army
for taking him from his new--found happiness, but seeking the
opportunity to further his profession and serve his country to
the fullest.
He was assigned as commander of "L" Company, 15th
Infantry, 3rd Division. While with the company, he was awarded
the Bronze Star Medal for Valor after leading a patrol on a dangerous
mission, and on the 23rd of March he was severely wounded by
hand grenades while assaulting an enemy position in hand-to-hand
combat. Ordinarily when an officer was wounded as badly as Taffy
was, he was rotated to the Zone of the Interior. But when he
was released from the hospital in Japan he returned to the 15th
Regiment, this time to command "A" Company. It was
while inspiring his company in an attack that he was mortally
wounded. His Battalion Commander, Lt. Col. Edward N. Hathaway,
related the action in a letter to Randy:
"On September 29, Frank's company was engaged in assaulting
enemy positions near Ukkonggi, Korea. The enemy was well entrenched
and their stubborn resistance halted the lead elements of the
company. At this time, Frank rushed forward to the assaulting
platoon and inspired the men to continue their advance and secure
the vital hill. It was while he was leading his company in the
assault that he was struck by an enemy machine gun bullet which
pierced his right arm and entered his chest. Despite immediate
medical attention, he died at approximately 11:00 A.M. within
a few minutes after he had been wounded in this action. . . His
loss will be felt keenly in this organization."
He was cited for his heroism and awarded the Silver Star Medal.
We are proud of him—not so much for the awards he won, as
for the fact that he was willing to give his life for the ideals
in which he believed so completely and by which he had lived.
His loss will be felt keenly by all of us who, knew him and loved
him.
-- A Classmate
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