Sponsored by:

Navy Federal Credit Union
Royal
Kenneth
Tucker
December 7, 1879

–

January 4, 1968

Cemetery:

Lemon Bay Historical Cemetery

Following in the footsteps of his father, Royal Tucker answered the call to ministry, as did two of his brothers. He graduated from the University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee, and was ordained an Episcopalian minister. He surprised the congregation of his first parish, Church of the Ascension in Bradford, Pennsylvania, one Sunday by following his sermon with an invitation to all to remain for a wedding _ his own. He then served as a missionary to Red Lodge, Montana, and then in 1915 as Rector of Saint Paul’s Episcopal Church in Gloversville, New York. He resigned his position there to served as a U.S. Army chaplain during World War I. After the war he served parishes in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and Brunswick, Georgia, and while there also served as Chaplain of the Georgia National Guard. He retired from both military service and the ministry in 1943.

Awards Received

  • Distinguished Service Cross

    Service:

    United States Army

    Rank:

    First Lieutenant (Chaplain’s Corps)

    Regiment:

    105th Infantry Regiment

    Division:

    27th Division, American Expeditionary Forces

    Action Date:

    September 29, 1918
    War Department, General Orders No. 142 (1918)

    The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to First Lieutenant (Chaplain’s Corps) Royal Kenneth Tucker, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 105th Infantry Regiment, 27th Division, American Expeditionary Forces, east of Ronssoy, France, 29 September 1918. During the operations against the Hindenburg line Chaplain Tucker displayed remarkable devotion to duty and courage in caring for the wounded under heavy shell and machine-gun fire. The splendid example set by this officer was an inspiration of the combat troops.