Bulletin E-Edition:
U.S. troops search for missing Madras soldier
By Monique Balas / The Bulletin
Published: June 19. 2006 4:00AM PSTPfc. Thomas Lowell Tucker, of Madras
advertisement:
A 25-year-old Madras man is believed to be one of two American soldiers missing and reportedly held captive in Iraq after a clash with insurgents in Yusufiyah, south of Baghdad, on Friday evening.
Pfc. Thomas Lowell Tucker was assigned to 1st Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) in Iraq. The military has classified him as "duty status unknown," said Kay Fristad of the Oregon National Guard's Public Affairs Service. The National Guard received the initial call Friday, Fristad said, the day the two soldiers were reported missing.
She is serving as a liaison between the Army and Tucker's parents; he is unmarried.
"We are involved only because there is no active duty base in Oregon," she said.
Tucker, a 1999 Madras High School graduate, worked for former Madras Mayor Rick Allen during his high school years.
"God, it breaks your heart," said Allen. "It just brings it all so much closer to home."
Allen, who is a former owner of the Madras Tiger Mart, knew Tucker about six years ago when the teenager pumped gas and washed cars at the store.
"When he worked for me, he was always a spirited kid and was always just a good guy, the well-liked type, and that kind of stuff," Allen said. "He's a tough kid."
Allen remembered Tucker liked toying with cars. In high school, Tucker belonged to thee Vocational Industrial Clubs of America, according to his Madras High School yearbook.
Janet Brown's two sons grew up with Tucker in Madras. Her oldest, Cody Brown, played baseball with him and is now deployed in the 101st Airborne Division in Iraq.
"It's your worst fear when the military comes to your door," she said. "This community supports each other, and so whatever the community can do to help, we will step up to help this family."
She encouraged Madras residents to put up yellow ribbons and flags as a show of support.
Fristad could not provide much information about Tucker's deployment in Iraq or his military career, other than saying he was stationed at the Army's Fort Campbell, Ky., base. Fristad told The Associated Press she had a brief conversation with Tucker's parents and they said he joined the military "to do something positive for the country."
His parents were still preparing a statement at press time and were not ready to speak to the media, Fristad said.
"It's just a hard situation and they need time to prepare themselves," she said.
Gov. Ted Kulongoski could not be reached for comment Sunday, said Lonn Hoklin, his press secretary. Hoklin said the status of the soldiers wasn't expected to be confirmed by military officials until today, but one of them may have been killed.
"I have not spoken with the governor about this but I know he always feels a keen sense of personal loss whenever one of our military people from Oregon is lost or suffers any injury," he said.
Allen has not seen Tucker since he went into the military but remembers him as a clean-cut, well-liked, street-smart kid.
Allen has faith that if anyone can survive this situation, Tucker can.
"I think he's got a strong mind and a strong will, and he's got the determination and guts to get through," he said.
Allen only hopes for the best for the young, energetic boy he knew years ago.
"We're all thinking of him and pulling for him," he said, "and our hearts go out to the family."
ARTICLE ACCESS: This article is among those available to all readers. Many more articles are available only to E-Edition members. Sign up today!
blog comments powered by Disqus
