Lawrence M. Tucker

Retired Command Sgt. Maj. Lawrence M. Tucker, U.S. Army, passed away June 29, 2013, at the Veteran's Administration Medical Center in Martinsburg, W.Va.

A native of southern Illinois, he was born on Sept. 3, 1930, and was 82 years old. He is preceded in death by: his father, Lawrence H. Tucker; his mother, Esther A. (Winn) Tucker; and two brothers, Franklin Marion Tucker, and Earl Sherman Tucker.

He is survived by: his sister, Helen Oxford of McClure, Ill.;, two sons, Lawrence M. Tucker Jr. of Williamsburg, and Martin W. Tucker, of Ashburn.

Tucker entered the Army from Illinois in July 1948 and was immediately assigned to the U.S. Army Occupation Forces in Vaihingen, Germany. He served in various locations across the globe during his 30 years of distinguished military service. In 1964, CSM Tucker was promoted to sergeant major and became, at the time, the youngest sergeant major in the United States Army. In February 1973, he was assigned as the command sergeant major of the United States Theater Army Support Command, Europe, the largest peacetime logistical organization in the history of the U.S. Army. Organizational elements of this command were located in 267 cities in 13 European countries and had over 260,000 assigned personnel. When this tour of duty was completed in September 1974, he was returned to Fort Lee, where he again assumed the position as command sergeant major of the United States Army Quartermaster Center and Fort Lee and continued in this assignment until his retirement from active duty on July 31, 1978. During his long and distinguished career with the United States Army, Tucker received numerous awards and decorations, among them the Meritorious Service Medal, Bronze Star, and Legion of Merit. He was most recently inducted as a distinguished member of the Quartermaster Regiment in Fort Lee.

After retiring from active military service, Command Sgt. Maj. Tucker earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from Saint Leo University and worked in civil service for several years.

He was a loving and devoted husband to his wife of 60 years, Charlotte M. Tucker, who preceded him in death in 2010. Prior to his passing, he resided in Ashburn, with his youngest son, Martin and his wife, Aimee, and their two sons.

Visitation and service will be held at Colonial Funeral Home, 201 Edwards Ferry Road, Leesburg, at 11 a.m. on July 9, 2013.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to Arcola Pleasant Valley Volunteer Fire Department at www.arcolavfd.org.

Condolences may be left at www.colonialfuneralhome.com. Interment with full military honors is planned at Arlington National Cemetery on a future date to be determined.