Tucker's Troopers

Here I will post short biographies of officers and men who served with the 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment in World War Two. If you want your relative or friend who was in the 504th see on this page, please contact me at tuckerstroopers@live.nl  and send in a picture and the info you have about that trooper.

Lieutenant-Colonel John T. Berry

John T. Berry was born on August 31, 1916 and joined the 2nd Battalion of the 503rd Parachute Infantry Regiment after completing jump training. He was assigned as commanding officer of F Company. In July 1942 the battalion was sent to England to observe and participate in the British airborne forces training. Some months later, in November 1942, the unit was flown to North Africa where the battalion jumped as part of Operation Torch. In the planes Berry and his fellow officers and men heard that their battalion was resignated as 2nd Battalion of the 509th Parachute Infantry Regiment. The 503rd had left the United States in November and picked up A Company of the 504th and the majority of the 501st Parachute Infantry Battalion enroute to Australia.

Captain Berry was injured on the drop at Youks-le-Bains and was sent back to the States for recuperation. In the Summer of 1944 he was sent over to England and assigned to the 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment. Berry, now a major, jumped with the 1st Battalion in the Netherlands on 17 September 1944. Three months later Major Berry succeeded Lieutenant Colonel Willard E. Harrison as commanding officer and remained in command until the regiment returned in New York in January 1946.

John Berry died on February 23, 1993 in his hometown Arkadelphia, Arkansas.

Wade McIntyre Jr. was born on March 5, 1920 in Ohio and joined the 502nd Parachute Infantry Battalion after completing jump training. He was assigned served as Communications Officer at the time. In early May 1942, when the 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment was activated by Colonel Theodore L. Dunn, McIntyre was part of the initial cadre. He served most of his time in the 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment as the Special Services Officer and was in charge of the 504th Grave Registration Detail in Holland. In England he organized several day trips, including boattrips on the River Avon. He returned to his homestate Ohio after the war had ended and passed away on April 15, 1988 at age 68.

Colonel Reuben Henry Tucker III

Reuben Henry Tucker III was born on January 29, 1911 and was active in the Boy Scouts and sports in his youth. He entered West Point in 1934 but was thrown out because a failing grade in mathematics. Tucker passed two days of exams for re-admission and was allowed to return in the class of 1935. This time he graduated and a day after his graduation he married with his fiancee.

Tucker was battalion adjutant in the 504th Parachute Infantry Battalion and became commanding officer of the 1st Battalion of the 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment on May 1, 1942. Captain William R. Beall from Maryland was assigned as his executive officer. Major Tucker impressed both his subordinates and his superior officers and was appointed as executive regimental commander. On December 1, 1942 Major General Matthew B. Ridgway relieved Colonel Theodore L. Dunn from his command (a habit Ridgway would repeat with other battalion and regimental commanders later in the war) and replaced him by Tucker.

As the regiment left on the George Washington to North Africa in April 1943 Tucker was still a lieutenant-colonel. A few weeks later he was promoted to Colonel by Ridgway on the eve of the Sicily jump.

UNDER CONSTRUCTION