USS HENRY W. TUCKER DE-377

HENRY WARREN TUCKER

Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, July 2015

Henry Warren Tucker was born 5 October 1919 in Birmingham, Ala. He enlisted in the Naval Reserve 24 June 1941 and after being trained as a pharmacist’s mate reported to the oiler Neosho 15 January 1942. On 7 May 1942, in the opening phase of the Battle of the Coral Sea, Neosho and her escorting destroyer were attacked by three waves of Japanese planes. The escort sank and Neosho was so severely damaged that the skipper ordered all hands to prepare to abandon ship. Many of the oiler’s crew, believing that “abandon ship” orders had been given, went over the side at once. As the men struggled through the water trying to reach the few undamaged life rafts, Henry W. Tucker swam among them, treating the burned and wounded. Disregarding his own safety, he helped many of his shipmates to safety on the life rafts while refusing a place himself, at the cost of his life. For his gallant and devoted service to his wounded comrades, Pharmacist’s Mate Third Class Henry W. Tucker was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross.