Montgomery Man Follows Parents' Footsteps in the U.S. Navy

Quartermaster Seaman (QM) Anthony Tucker from Montgomery, a 2012 graduate of Oswego East High School, has been a QM in the Navy for nine months. Tucker is currently serving his first deployment aboard the USS Peleliu (LHA 5). Submitted photo and article.

Quartermaster Seaman (QM) Anthony Tucker of Montgomery, a 2012 graduate of Oswego East High School, has been a QM in the Navy for nine months. Tucker is currently serving his first deployment aboard the USS Peleliu (LHA 5).

His parents, Anthony M. Tucker and Sonia German Tucker, were also both sailors in the Navy, which played an important role in Tucker’s decision to enlist following high school.

“I wanted to join the Navy to make my parents proud,” said Tucker. “They have always meant so much to me and I truly look up to them everyday.”

Tucker said there are many aspects he enjoys about the Navy, but credits one in particular he has learned thus far.

“I love the history the United States Navy has,” he said. “Being apart of something that has greatly shaped our world today is an honor for me.”

Since deploying mid June, the amphibious assault ship USS Peleliu (LHA 5) has conducted Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) Exercise 2014. Twenty-two nations, 49 ships and six submarines, more than 200 aircraft and 25,000 personnel participated in RIMPAC exercise from June 26 to Aug. 1, in and around the Hawaiian Islands and Southern California.

Peleliu is currently the lead ship in the Peleliu Expeditionary Strike Group, commanded by Rear Adm. Hugh Wetherald, and is conducting Amphibious Landing Exercise (PHIBLEX) 2015. PHIBLEX 15 is an annual, bilateral training exercise conducted by the Armed Forces of the Philippines, U.S. Marines and Navy to strengthen interoperability across a range of capabilities to include disaster relief and contingency operations.

Peleliu is on its final regularly scheduled Western Pacific deployment in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of responsibility supporting security and stability in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region before decommissioning early next year.