Colonel John Eugene (Gene) Tucker United States Air Force Retired, was born and raised in Oklahoma. Son of the marriage of John Ferguson Tucker and William Alene Rader. A graduate of Miami High School, Northeastern Oklahoma A&M Collage (designated a Distinguished Alumni) and Oklahoma State University (Reserve Officer Training Corps Distinguished Graduate), he entered the United States Air Force in 1964. Following in his father's footsteps (US Army Military Police, Private First Class, Bronze Star, Purple Heart, French Croix de Guerre with Palm (Medal of Honor), survivor of numerous campaigns, (Normandy, St-Lo, Mortain, Mons, Aachen, Hurtgen Forest, Ardennes, Bonn/ Remagen/Harz Mountains). Gene served as an Air Police Officer/Security Police Officer for 30 years. He held positions of Flight Security Officer, Operations Officer and Commander at the Squadron and Group level. He was the Commander and Commandant of the USAF Security Police Academy, at that time, the largest Police Academy in the free world with over 19,000 annual graduates. He served as a staff officer: Headquarters United States Air Forces Europe (USAFE), Headquarters USAF Security Police and Headquarters Pacific Air Forces (PACAF). He ultimately served as the Deputy Chief of Staff, PACAF, where his responsibilities encompassed the geographic area from the West Coast of the United States (including Alaska and Hawaii) to Japan, Korea, and the Philippines. He was the Security Advisor to the Assistant Security of Defense for Atomic Energy. He concluded his military career as the Deputy Chief of Staff, Headquarters USAF Security Police, where he held operational responsibilities over the largest Air Force Enlisted career field. His military decorations included the Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster, Airman’s Medal for heroism (the USAF highest decoration for non-combat heroism – (informally recognized as the medal of honor for non-combat acts of bravery), the Bronze Star, five Meritorious service Medals, Air Force Commendation Medal, Presidential Unit Citation for Valor (V) Outstanding Unit Citation (V), Vietnam Service Medal (three Bronze Stars), Vietnam Campaign Medal (three awards), the Vietnamese Medal of Honor, the Vietnamese Service medal with palm and the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Gold and Silver Star) and numerous other medals, ribbons, citations, commendations, and commemorations by US and foreign nations (83 in total). Promoted from Second Lieutenant to his highest rank of Colonel, he was selected for promotion ahead of his peers to the rank of Lt Colonel and Colonel. At the time of his selection to Colonel, he was one of the youngest officers to ever achieve that rank.
Col. Tucker presented to the Air Force leadership the desire of the men and women of his career field to have a unique and enduring symbol of their profession, the “Blue Beret”! It was approved as THE official designation of the United States Air Force Security Police.
Col. Tucker was awarded the first and only Basic Missileman Badge for his leadership in development, deployment and employment of the USAF first and only man portable point air defense weapon system (Stinger) to defend Osan and Kunsan Air Base, South Korea. A similar feat he accomplished in Afghanistan.
An accomplished marksman, Col. Tucker was proficient and/or expert in domestic and foreign weapons as well as martial arts. He supported US and foreign forces in their efforts to counter drug operations and clandestine activities involving weapons {chemical, biological, and nuclear) of mass destruction.
Col. Tucker was a graduate of the USAF Squadron Officers School, Air War College, Industrial Collage of the Armed Forces, and a graduate of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) National Academy. He served as the Hawaii State President of the FBI National Academy Associates. He received his Master of Science Degree (Criminology & Forensic Science) from “The George Washington University”, Washington D. C.
Following retirement from active-duty, Col. Tucker was employed at the Los Alamos National Laboratory as the Deputy Director of Security. Acknowledged for his actions in the Cerro Grande Fire that threatened the Laboratory and the City of Los Alamos, New Mexico, he was selected to serve as the director of all safety and security responsibilities for the protection of the Laboratory if the primary Director was incapacitated. He was responsible for the removal from the Laboratory of a foreign national alleged to have committed unauthorized actions regarding highly classified material and information. With national and international implications and attention, the individual was subsequently convicted and sentenced.
Upon retirement from the Laboratory, he continued his service to the community of Los Alamos, NM, the State of New Mexico, and his country as the Post Commander of the Los Alamos Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) - ten years, VFW District Commander - two years and the VFW National Representative for Prisoners of War (POW)/Missing in Action (MIA).
Col. Tucker was a Life Member of: the Air Force Association, Military Order of the World Wars, Disabled American Veterans, Military Officer Association of America, VFW (Gold Level) and American Legion. He was exceptionally proud to be installed as a Life Member of the Non Commissioned Officers Association. He was designated as an Honorary “Chief Master Sergeant of Security Police” by the Headquarters USAF Security Police Chief's Group.
Col. Tucker was published and spoke nationally and internationally on the mental condition, Post Traumatic Stress, (an illness from which his father suffered), as well as his own struggle with PTS, following the result of five confirmed and numerous classified near death events during his military and civilian service.
Col. Tucker was eternally grateful to his numerous Orthopedic and Ophthalmological surgeons, infectious disease specialists, physical therapists, and, above all, his caring wife, Mary, that precluded his permanent wheelchair confinement and total blindness!
A convert to Catholicism, he performed many Parish and community services as Lector, Eucharist Minister, Treasurer, and numerous other Ministries. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus, Forth Degree.
Col. Tucker flew the American Flag daily along with the POW/MIA flag (in honoring the loss and ultimate return of one of his two classmates) as well as the Marine Corps and USAF flag to acknowledge the men and women with which he served as well as the service of his grandson in the United States Marine Corps.
He established the flying of all state flags at the USAF Security Police Museum on the graduation day for the newest members of his profession. He was a member of the Board of Directors for the USAF Security Forces Museum and the USAF Security Forces Association.
Col. Tucker is survived by his wife of 61 years, Mary Louise (Zodrow) Tucker of Claremore, Oklahoma. He described her as his best friend, confidante, lover, wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother of the first order; two daughters, Melinda Marie Carney and Elizabeth Ann Cunningham; four grandchildren, Katharine, Nathan, John, and Jeremy; and one great granddaughter, Isla May.
He was an unacknowledged associate of the US clandestine service.
Memorial Mass of Resurrection will be held on Friday, August 11, 2023 at 7:30 pm at the Blue Skies of Texas High Flight Chapel, 5100 John D. Ryan Blvd, San Antonio, TX 78245.
He will be interred in Arlington National Cemetery.
Arrangements by Tondre-Guinn Funeral Home. Visit www.tondre-guinn.com
