Beaufort’s Darrell Thacker, 86, joined the United States Marine Corps in 1954 in Dayton, Ore. After boot camp in San Diego, he trained at the Airborne Radio Operator School and then served at MCAS El Toro. He next was assigned to a Flying Boxcar (C-119) squadron at MCAS Cherry Point including deployments in support of the Marines in Beirut.
His next assignment was as a Drill Instructor at Parris Island, during which he was selected for Second Lieutenant. He then served as the Air Defense Control Officer back at Cherry Point before transferring to Okinawa. That included periodic deployments to the major radar site at Monkey Mountain near Da Nang in Vietnam.
Next it was back to Cherry Point working in Air Defense. After five years being commissioned, he reverted to Master Sergeant at a MCAS Beaufort squadron. Then it was back to be Operations Chief at a radar squadron in Okinawa.
His final tour was back at MCAS Beaufort, from which he retired in 1974 as a Master Sergeant with 20 years of service. He then used his GI Bill to earn an associate degree from TCL, thereafter teaching HVAC at TCL for 11 years.
Compiled by John Chubb, American Legion Post 9. For Veteran Of The Week nominations, contact jechubb1@gmail.com.
