Tag: Shirley Tucker

All Write

Shipmate you stand relieved

Cindy Hval

tom and shirley tucker at barnes and noble

Harold (Tom) Tucker passed away yesterday morning. His and Shirley’s story is the final chapter in War Bonds: Love Stories from the Greatest Generation.

This couple is especially dear to me. They attended every book signing they could make it to, shared their story on public TV in a Northwest Profiles episode, and fielded questions from military service members past and present at the Spokane Veterans Forum.

It hurt Tom to speak of the things he saw when his ship, the USS LaGrange, was bombed two days before the end of the war. But he spoke of the wounded and dying men he tried to help. It was important to him that their sacrifice would be remembered.

Following his service during WWll, Tom became one of the first motorcycle police officers in Spokane, Washington, and despite the seriousness of some of the stories he shared, he always made me laugh.

My thoughts are with Shirley today.

“She’s the other half of me,” Tom once said.

Shipmate you stand relieved. We have the watch.

tom and shirley tucker, dating, 1944, low res

 

War Bonds

Still Celebrating

Cindy Hval

23456584_1750195468387694_7681833426586637853_o[1]

I was so delighted to see this photo of Harold (Tom) and Shirley Tucker celebrating their 72nd wedding anniversary on November 12 at North Hill Christian Church in Spokane.

The Tuckers are featured in chapter 36 of War Bonds: Love Stories From the Greatest Generation.

Long may they love!

War Bonds

War Bonds at Spokane Veterans Forum

Cindy Hval
?????????????
Cindy Hval with Myrt and Walt Powers and Harold and Shirley Tucker.

Last night, two couples featured in War Bonds Love Stories From the Greatest Generation were guests at Spokane Veterans Forum.

The Veterans Forum is a group of veterans and Gold Star Mothers who serve as mentors to men and women coming through the Spokane Veterans Court.

The Spokane Veterans Forum (SVF) provides training support, fellowship,
camaraderie and help to veterans from  any Veterans Enhanced
Therapeutic (VET) Court.

Organizers showed the Northwest Profiles video featuring the two couples and then I facilitated a discussion about relationships during and after military service.

The veterans and their mentors proved to be a warm and responsive crowd and gave the Powers and the Tuckers a standing ovation at the conclusion of our discussion.

How wonderful to see these members of the Greatest Generation honored, respected and valued for the wisdom they have to offer us.

War Bonds

Special guests make book signings better

Cindy Hval

10456198_860846913953937_6377083703754114873_n[1]

Tom Tucker, Cindy Hval, Shirley Tucker

What a delight it was to have Tom and Shirley Tucker join me at Barnes and Noble on Saturday for a War Bonds reading/signing event.

The Tucker’s story, “Romance on Wheels,”  is the final chapter in the book. The pair met at a roller rink when Shirley was a high school senior and Tom was stationed at Farragut Naval Training Station.

Tom endured the last enemy attack on a navy ship (USS LaGrange) two days before WWll ended. The things he experienced caused him to write to Shirley and tell her to cancel their wedding plans.

Thankfully, he changed his mind.

The Tuckers will celebrate their 70th anniversary in November.11009995_860846953953933_7279905678144352977_n[1]