Senate Concurrent Resolution 510

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REMEMBERING THE GALLANT SERVICE AND COMMENDING THE LIFE OF UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS LANCE CORPORAL MARC LUCAS TUCKER OF PONTOTOC, MISSISSIPPI, WHO WAS KILLED IN IRAQ ON WEDNESDAY, JUNE 8, 2005, AND EXPRESSING THE SYMPATHY OF THE LEGISLATURE.

WHEREAS, Marine Lance Corporal Marc Lucas Tucker, 24, of Pontotoc, Mississippi was killed on Wednesday, June 8, 2005, in a nonhostile Humvee accident, when the vehicle in which he was riding overturned while on a night mission in Asr Uranium, Iraq; and

WHEREAS, Corporal Tucker was assigned to the 9th Engineer Support Battalion, 3rd Force Service Support Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force, based in Okinawa, Japan; and

WHEREAS, carried by a military honor guard, he came home to his community and family, and was buried Wednesday, June 15, 2005, at Oak Forest Cemetery in the Randolph Community with full military honors; and

WHEREAS, since operations began in Iraq and Afghanistan, 33 soldiers or sailors with Mississippi ties have been killed. Corporal Tucker is the third northeast Mississippi soldier to die in Iraq; and

WHEREAS, Marc Tucker was a 1999 graduate of South Pontotoc Attendance Center. His Principal described Marc as a young man who enjoyed life and made friends wherever he went. He was a very patriotic young man who dreamed of being a Marine, and joined that elite branch of service in November 2003. "He died doing absolutely what he loved. He wanted to do his part"; and

WHEREAS, during his funeral, Corporal Tucker was awarded the Navy Cross and the Mississippi Medal of Valor by Marine Major John Harding of Boston, Massachusetts; and

WHEREAS, his family received an outpouring of grief and support from across the state, demonstrating the community's acknowledgment of the sacrifice made by this Mississippian; and

WHEREAS, Marc is survived by his parents, Donna and Kelly Bagwell of Pontotoc; his father, Mark Tucker of Pontotoc; two sisters, Christy Irby (Forrest) of Oxford, and Pam Bolen (Gregg) of Pontotoc; a brother, Terry Bagwell (Jennifer) of Pontotoc; his grandparents, John Austin and Daphna Bland of Randolph, Baxter and Minnie Tucker of Pontotoc, and Arlis and Motee Bagwell of Pontotoc; his great-grandmother, Annie Rea of Randolph; a niece, Madison Bagwell; two nephews, Ben Ibry and Hunter Bagwell; and

WHEREAS, to a country, a fallen soldier means a national loss; to a community, a fallen soldier means a true hero; to a parent, a fallen soldier means a son who won't be coming home. Mississippians understand the costs of conflict, because we have paid them in the past, and it is with great pride and humility that we recognize the heroic action of this great American and Mississippian, who was the guardian of civilization as we know it today:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby remember the gallant service and commend the life of United States Marine Corps Lance Corporal Marc Lucas Tucker of Pontotoc, Mississippi, who was killed in Iraq on Wednesday, June 8, 2005, and extend the thoughts and prayers of the Legislature to his family and our sorrow on his passing.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to the surviving family of Corporal Tucker and be made available to members of the Capitol Press Corps.