Local "Escondido" World War II Veteran Named a "Chavalier" of the Legion of Honor from French Government

(Vocus) May 14, 2009 -- World War II Veteran Corporal Thomas B. Tucker will receive the award of The National Order of The Legion of Honor in the rank of Chevalier (Knight) from the French Government on Saturday, May 16, 2009. The private ceremony will begin at 11:00 am at Emmanuel Faith Community Church, Lower Chapel, 639 East Felicita Ave, Escondido, CA 92025. The award is the highest honor France bestows on its citizens and foreign nationals. Corporal Thomas B. Tucker, US Army will be presented this honor in recognition of his distinguished service during World War II. Deputy Consul General of France in Los Angeles, M. Francois-Xavier Tilliette will present Corporal Tucker with the honorable award. The ceremony will also be presented by the United States Color Guard.

The award is in recognition of the 60th anniversary of the landing of the Allied forces at Normandy France on June 6, 1944. The decree signed by the President of French Republic on October 13, 2008 named Corporal Thomas B. Tucker a "Chevalier" of the Legion of Honor. This award signed by the President of the French Republic's is in high esteem for Corporal Tucker's merits and accomplishments. In particular, it is a sign of France's true and unforgettable gratitude and appreciation for Corporal Tucker's personal, precious contributions to the United States' decisive role in liberation of France during World War II. The Legion of Honor was created be Napoleon in 1802 to acknowledge services rendered to France by persons of great merit.

About Tom Tucker:

Tom Tucker, 85, of Escondido, CA served in World War II with Company B, 7th Combat Engineer Battalion, 5th Infantry Division. He was inducted into the U.S Army in Los Angeles, California in June 1943 and did his basic training at Camp Abbot, Oregon. His division landed on Utah Beach in Normandy, France on July 9, 1944 and fought its way through five campaigns: Normandy, Northern France, Ardennes, Rhineland and Central Europe. His units' dangerous duties involved overcoming obstacles in front of advancing infantry such as mines, roadblocks, booby traps, and 26 river crossings from Normandy to Czechoslovakia.

Tom was wounded in action in February 1944 during the Battle of the Bulge Ardennes campaign. After V-E Day in May 1945 he served with the Army of Occupation in Germany until July 1945. His significant decorations include the Purple Heart and the Belgium Croix de Guerre. Corporal Tucker was discharged from the US Army at Fort Knox, Kentucky in October 1945. Tom has returned often to France with his wife over the years. He has been particularly touched by an organization "Thanks G.I's" in the Corny-sur-Moselle area which honors the divisions that fought in the area, particularly the 5th Division.

After the war, Tom worked as an Architectural Draftsman for 10 years. As a result of his work experience he passed the California architectural examination and became a licensed architect in 1955. In 1957 he formed the architectural firm Tucker, Sadler and Bennett. Over the course of 46 years until his retirement in May 2003, Tom helped grow the firm to one of the leading architectural firms in the San Diego area, known today as Tucker Sadler Architects (http://www.tuckersadler.com/). His professional achievements have received noteworthy recognition. He was inducted into the American Institute of Architects College of Fellows in 1982 and he received a special award from the City of Escondido for over 30 years of dedicated city planning community service. The Society of the 5th Division selected him as "Man of the Year" in 2002 for his efforts to track down division World War II Missing In Action in France and to locate members from the Vietnam War era. Tom resides in Escondido, California.

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