Mon 3/18/02 7:20 PM
Hi Jason,
Here is the picture I promised of my husband, Gary Tucker,
and Lee Ermey at MCRD San Diego, Bay Side Restaurant. Gary had
just bought a round of drinks for our son, Dustin’s, Drill Instructors.
One of these Sgts introduced Gary to Lee, explaining that Lee
frequently visits the Bay Side Restaurant, and they are used
to seeing him there. Gary is a great fan and was delighted to
have the opportunity to meet Lee.
MCRD San Diego is a special place to Gary since that is
where he too went to boot camp. In November of 1965 when he
graduated with Platoon 183, their series was honored with the
presence of Chesty Puller who was their guest reviewing officer.
Talk about awestruck! As Gary reflects back on this though,
it is now much more valuable to him at this time in his life
that it was then. Gary is a full professor, and the Chairperson
of the Criminal Justice program at a college in Dayton Ohio,
and he really encourages his students to remember the heroes
of our country.
Some of Gary’s heroes today are John McCain and James Webb.
These are some guys who really had it tough in Viet Nam and
went on to be great men. Gary recommends The Nightingale’s Song
by Robert Timburg as reading for anyone who has a desire to
really understand Viet Nam, and what those troops endured.
Semper Fi
Gary & Becky
Dear Becky,
Your email was a wonderful surprise for it contained 5 heroes.
R. Lee Ermey is obviously one of my favorites and no Marine
alive or dead could keep from getting goose bumps at the mention
of Chesty Puller. Ever since I read “The Nightingale’s Song,”
John McCain has impressed me deeply and his bio, Faith of My
Father, was just plain inspiring.
The 5th hero is your husband. A Marine in the 60’s and now
a full professor, he embodies the warrior-scholar that I think
all Marines should as aspire to be. I use the following quote
in the tagline of my school account email:
“That [state] which separates its scholars from its warriors
will have its thinking done by cowards, and its fighting
by fools.”
- Thucydides, The Peloponnesian Wars
-- Jason
Dear Jason,
What a very sweet e-mail message! Of course you have mine
and Gary's permission to post the picture, and any information
you'd care to include. We are both very impressed with your
efforts on your website. A wonderful tribute to the Marine Corps,
as well as to your lovely family.
Thanks for asking, and for the kind words.
Semper Fi.
Becky
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