NATCHEZ — Funeral services for Fielding D. Tucker, 84, of Natchez, who passed away Wednesday, July 29, 2009, at Natchez Community Hospital will be at 11 a.m. at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Vidalia, La., with Father George Pookkattu officiating. Burial with military honors will follow at 2 p.m. Saturday at Cedar Hill Cemetery in Vicksburg under the direction of Laird Funeral Home. Visitation will be from 10 until services at 11 a.m. Saturday at the church.

Fielding was born April 28, 1925, in Vicksburg, the son of Henry Thomas Tucker and Katherine Butler Tucker. He enlisted in the U.S. Army at age 18 and served two enlistments and was a recipient of the Silver Star, two Bronze Stars, a Presidential Citation for the Battle of the Bulge and other decorations. Fielding was first stationed in  Africa, where he trained for the invasion of Italy. He then deployed to Italy with the 7th Army, and participated in the liberation of Rome and numerous other battles before deploying to France and participating in the D-Day invasion, Battle of the Bulge and battles throughout many villages of France.

During numerous returns to the Alsace region of France, Fielding rekindled friendships with WWII French veterans and relatives of veterans and worked with them to dedicate monuments to American soldiers who lost their lives during the liberation of France.

Wordl War II Veteran Fielding Tucker was recently named “Chevalier” (Knight) of the Legion of Honor by the President of France. The Legion d’honneur is a French order established by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1802 to acknowledge services rendered by persons of great merit. The Order is highest decoration in France.

Fielding made numerous contributions to literary organizations to honor memories of World War II comrades. “Promise Made-Promise Kept,” one of several Fielding Tucker World War II memoirs, is featured on the CNN sponsored Web site memoriesofwar.com. Fielding provided his memoirs of World War II to HBO for use in connection with the Band of Brothers Living Memorial and also provided World War II letters signed with his nickname “Snippy” for inclusion in “World War II Letters,” a book being edited for Walter Cronkite.

Fielding retired as Production Superintendent of Natchez Democrat after 32 years of service. He was a devout member of Our Lady Of Lourdes Catholic Church in Vidalia.

He and his war records and honors had been featured numerous times in The Vicksburg Post.

He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Mary Theresa Tucker; very special friend, Helen Roberts; one brother, Butler Tucker; one sister, Tee Roberts; and one great-grandchild, John Casey Ashley.

Survivors include one sister, Elsie Hossley of Vicksburg; five daughters, Kathy D’Antoni and husband Paul, and Mary Ann Eagle, all of Lake Charles, La., Diana Hinson, Becky Ferguson and husband Jeff, all of Vidalia, and Janie Reyes and husband Roy of Ferriday, La.; three sons, Tony Tucker and wife Mary Kay of Lake Charles,  Ed Tucker and wife Marie of Natchez and Danny Tucker and wife Donna of Pollock, La.; 18 grandchildren; and 17 great-grandchildren.

Pallbearers will be David D’Antoni, Stephen Tucker, Roy Reyes, Michael Ferguson, Philip Tucker, Anthony Tucker and Brandon Eagle.

Honorary pallbearers are Brian Tucker, Jeffrey Ferguson, Levi Reyes, Joseph Tucker, John D’Antoni and Ryan Eagle.

On-line condolences may be sent to www.lairdfh.com.