Joining the Marines Saved My Life: Daryl Tucker’s Story

Jail or the Military? Those are two options no 17-year-old wants to face. Popular culture glorifies The United States military. It’s portrayed as a path to discipline, honor, and a better life. However, for some individuals, joining the military is not a choice but a consequence of their behavior.

Judges don’t always want incarceration to be the only option for a wayward teen. Therefore, they offer an ultimatum of enlisting in the military over serving time in jail. A Chicago judge gave Daryl Tucker that choice as he stood before him in his courtroom. The year was 1978, and either choice had the potential to change his life dramatically. Tucker chose the military and enlisted in the United States Marine Corps.

For many individuals like Tucker, military service represents an escape from a troubled life or a dead-end situation. The structured environment, steady income, and benefits like education and healthcare are alluring. Yet, when a court order drives the decision to enlist, it often raises questions. Are the Daryl Tuckers of the world equipped to handle the demands of military life? Can the military give these youth a better way of life to ensure their success?

I sat down with Daryl Tucker three days before his 64th birthday. Our conversation explores how the military impacted his life and what happens after military service ends.

Keep reading to learn more about his journey and how he discovered CSM Angels Refuge as a homeless veteran.

Jail or the Military: The Reality of Joining the Marines

The Marine Corps is one of the most rigid branches of the military. It’s known for its intense physical and mental demands. Basic training, also known as boot camp, is designed to set aside individuality and mold recruits into a cohesive unit. This involves rigorous physical exercises and strict discipline.

Mr. Tucker recalls his experience in boot camp in the Marines and how he almost failed due to behavioral issues. It was his first time leaving his home in Chicago, IL. There was a lot of mixed emotions and anxiety. He was 17 years old and had been in trouble most of his teen life. The judge was clear. He didn’t want to see him back in his courtroom again.

He acknowledges the military “cleaned me up and made a real man out of me. It turned out to be a positive experience.” Once he realized he was over two thousand miles away from home, he began to embrace the opportunity to change his life.

Getting Through Basic Training

Tucker was stationed at Camp Pendleton, California's Marine Corps Base. Basic training was “brutal,” according to him. “It’s the hardest out of all four” military branches. “If you make it through Marine Corps training, you’re ready for the world.” Plus, “It made a man out of me.”

Adapting to Military Life

The Marines' culture built its reputation on unwavering toughness and resilience. It may not fit everyone, especially those who haven't voluntarily chosen this path.

Tucker has an outgoing personality that draws people to him. He was able to build friendships in a short time.

Unfortunately, racism doesn’t stop just because individuals share a common goal. Tucker admits even in the military, racism exists. He described an incident that could have easily cut his court-ordered intervention short.

He recalls an incident with a Caucasian counterpart. “We were in formation,” he begins as he shares how a simple misunderstanding led to him being called a racial slur. The two ended up in a brief physical altercation that could have landed them in the Correctional Custody Unit (CCU). He describes the potential punishment as making small rocks out of big rocks with eighteen-pound sledgehammers from sunrise to sunset.

Keep in mind this was in the late 70s. Although CCUs still exist, the Marines have modified the 30-day CCU program to rehabilitate Marines deserving of a second chance.

In Tucker's case, he could have been dishonorably discharged and ended up in prison. Instead, he and the other Marine were able to negotiate an amicable solution that benefited them both.

Getting Back on Track

After his stint in the CCU, Tucker knew he had to get himself together. Otherwise, he’d end up back in Chicago in front of the judge who gave him the choice between jail or the military.

During his six years in the military, Tucker received assignments at the following bases:

·       Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Cherry Point

·       Twentynine Palms Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center

·       Glenview Naval Air Station (closed 1995)

Glenview NAS was about 30 miles outside of Chicago. Tucker says he had to take a train to the base, where he received military training for two weeks every month.

During his time in the military, he wasn’t active in any wartime conflicts. “I came in on the tail end of the Vietnam War. They had already squashed their hostilities by the time I showed up.” He adds, “I didn't have to worry about going into combat.”

Tucker shares that he has a fear of flying. It’s a fear he would need to overcome if the U.S. were involved in active combat.

The Decision to Not Reenlist

It’s no secret that the military offers excellent benefits, especially if you make it your career. For Tucker, being stationed so close to Chicago derailed any plan of being a career Marine.

He admits that being a bachelor and so close to home is why he traded in his military life for “the club and the ladies.” By then he was 24 with a decent income. Still, he felt the military was “cramping my style.”

When you’re “in your twenties up in Chitown (Chicago), the ladies are everywhere. You want to be with the ladies and at the club.” He continues, “I'm a club man I gave it up, I guess, to pursue the bachelor life.

The decision not to reenlist meant he was on his own. With no real plan, he worked random jobs. He once worked for  Rev. Jesse Jackson, Sr.’s The Rainbow PUSH Coalition (RPC).

He became an ordained minister “about five years ago.” Tucker shares that he once took the MEGA Bus to Chicago to officiate his daughter’s wedding. “One of the greatest honors in my life,” he exclaims with great pride and joy.

Regrets

Looking back over the choice between jail or the military, he realizes he was grateful to have had the opportunity to enter the Marines. “I was blind to many things that they don't teach you as you grow up.” He adds, “The military shared some things with me that made me feel good about myself.”

Although he doesn’t have regrets, Tucker believes if he had it to do over again, he would “definitely consider going back.”

Life After the Military

Life after the military can be as big of a culture shock as entering. When the judge gave 17-year-old Daryl Tucker a choice between jail or the military, his basic needs would be taken care of by the government.

For those who do complete their service in the Marines, the transition to civilian life can be challenging, especially for those forced to join. By enlisting in the military, individuals avoid jail time and have a stable source of income and housing during their service.

The transition back to civilian life can be difficult. Without proper support and resources, some veterans may still find themselves struggling. Programs and support structures that address housing stability post-service are crucial in preventing homelessness among veterans. That’s why programs like CSM Angels Refuge are so vital today.

According to recent studies, veterans are now less than 10% of the adult homeless population in the United States. This still means that out of the approximately 653,104 homeless Americans, almost 50,000 are veterans. The Department of Veteran Affairs is doing more to partner with communities, ensuring housing and services for veterans after they leave active service.

Finding a Place to Call Home

Although Tucker has been out of the military for 40 years, he struggles to find a place to call home. He shared how he hasn’t created a solid foundation, although he’s been married and restarted his life’s journey multiple times.

He spoke about his experiences living in Las Vegas, Nevada, for nine years. From there, he went to Oklahoma City, where he stayed for almost ten years. After Oklahoma, he returned to Chicago but soon returned to California.

Tucker has had many adventures, from bachelorhood to being married three times. He has kept a positive outlook on life, something he credits to his time in the Marines. “With me being the strong man that the military made me to be, I bounce back, bounce back, and keep going.”

Today, he lives outside Atlanta, GA, and believes this is where he was always destined to be.

Family Life

Tucker has four adult children. The youngest son is thirty-three, and the oldest son is thirty-seven. He has a daughter who is the oldest of the siblings and has blessed him with “six grandchildren.” 

“I got a great coming. My granddaughter is pregnant she's about to bring forth the great grand.” He exclaims with much excitement.

Amidst his life journey, Tucker has experienced loss in many ways. Unfortunately, two of his wives have passed away. He shares that he did some things he isn’t proud of in his life, but he “did everything expected of him as a man and a husband. Tucker explains, “You gotta grow up, you got to get a job, you gotta get a wife, you gotta have some children, and raise your kids.”

He doesn’t hesitate to admit today, he’s “a happy bachelor.”

Experiencing Loss

Like too many families around the world, COVID-19 caused loss and despair. Tucker’s third wife (they had divorced) and his mother died during the pandemic. He can’t say for sure if their deaths were directly a result of the virus or if it amplified existing illnesses. One thing is for sure, he doesn’t know how he made it through it all.

His mother’s death took a brutal toll on his life. “When I lost my mother, I lost a world.” Adding, “My mother left me. Man, it hit me like a ton of bricks. She was the only thing, the only person on the planet that I actually trusted.”

He shares how a “young and beautiful” version of his mother appears in his dreams.” Unlike in her final days when an “oxygen machine with a long tube” assisted her breathing.

Tucker finds peace in the dreams he has about his mother. One in particular, she tells him, “You’re going to be successful at something before you leave. Go ahead and pursue that. I'm fine, son. I'm fine.”

That something may be his renewed commitment to ministry and a desire to help others having difficulties navigating through life.

Finding a Calling

Tucker recalls returning to Chicago for two weeks after completing basic training. The pastor at the church his mother and extended family attended called and asked him to come to the church. He described him as having a sense of urgency. “He needed me to come over to the church right away. He had some very important things to discuss. I hop on the bus and get over there.”

He details exiting the city bus and walking down Colfax Avenue. “I see a strange phenomenon. It was a beam of light shining down from the heavens right inside of something.”  That “something” he described as a giant tumbleweed. He asks if I’ve ever watched old westerns to ensure I knew what he was talking about. He finished describing the moment. “It was a tumbleweed in the shape of a volcanic cone…”

I was intrigued by the story, and my interest only grew as he described a light from heaven shining down, illuminating the giant tumbleweed. Tucker says he reached inside and pulled out “a fourteen-carat gold pendant of Jesus Christ.”

Tucker made it to the church and shared his revelation with the pastor. The pastor revealed that what he’d experienced confirmed why he needed to speak to him. “Well, son, you’re being called into the ministry,” the pastor exclaimed.

He returned to live in Chicago permanently following his time in the military. Tucker became an Associate Minister at the church. It was also how he later worked for RPC, which allowed him to meet “the first Black Mayor of Chicago, Harold Washington.”

The meeting with Washington was one of the highlights of Tucker’s life. He admits it also motivated him to want to do better because he “was just mesmerized” by his presence.

The Journey to Atlanta

In 2000, while living in Oklahoma City, Tucker and his third wife called it quits. He described how everything was falling apart. “I was down on my luck. I was about to lose my apartment and lose everything.” In 2006 he met a “stranger” and says he felt his “spiritual” presence. He believes the man was “sent from God.”

Through their discussions, the man, whom he never refers to by name, expressed to him that with his “energy,” he would do well in Atlanta, Georgia. He also told him, “You can become a millionaire. You can become very successful.” The endorsement was all Tucker needed to hear. He packed his things and headed to the ATL.

The move from Oklahoma to Atlanta was the fresh start he needed. There, he encountered a “well-to-do Black man driving a Bentley.” The man spoke positivity over him. It confirmed that he’d made the right decision.  

Through the years, Tucker continued his education in religion. Although he had decided he didn’t want to become a traditional preacher, he still wanted the knowledge. Today, he refers to himself as a spiritual leader.

From the Military to Homelessness

After arriving in Atlanta, he enrolled in Compensated Work Therapy (CWT). It is a clinical vocational rehabilitation program offered through the VA. The program works with candidates in seeking employment opportunities and to support veterans.

He participated in two readiness programs—one via the Salvation Army and another through the VA. After completing both programs, he worked at the VA hospital. Another benefit of the program is “they'll pay you straight pay. There no deductions,” he shared. However, the hourly pay rate seemed to be below the national minimum wage.

Tucker says he worked for the VA Hospital for 90 days. One day, his supervisor approached him with information about a permanent warehouse position at the National Archives and Records Administration. He applied for the position, and they hired him. For 14 years, he was a hardworking, dedicated employee. At one point, he even received employee recognition from senior leadership.

Despite his hard work and dedication, his world came crashing down.   

When I asked what happened to cause him to leave, he reluctantly shared that he refused to get vaccinated. It was a choice and sacrifice that many people made. Although locating actual numbers of people fired is challenging, we know thousands lost their jobs—many in the healthcare industry.

On the other hand, Tucker had the option to retire, which he took advantage of. He says he doesn’t regret his decision because it was something he believed in.

The Battle to Survive

 If losing loved ones and his long-term employment wasn’t enough, Tucker’s life continued on a downward spiral. After losing his job, homelessness followed. Unable to pay his rent, and eviction followed. Following his eviction, he lost most of his possessions. Past due $750, the storage company sold the contents of his storage unit.

Tucker recognizes that memories of his mom and former wives can never be replaced. However, losing all of his personal possessions was equally painful. “I lost everything at that storage place…they went up on the price so high that I couldn't meet (pay) it. They stole my stuff they stole everything from me.”

The pain from losing everything is still fresh. It reminded me of the reality show Storage Wars. People make a significant living bidding on abandoned and foreclosed storage units. One woman netted $7.5M from a $400 investment.

Tucker says his storage unit contained, among other things, his furniture, electronics, a $30K wardrobe, jewelry, a sneaker collection, but most importantly, his mementos. The material things can get replaced, but his photos and other personal items cannot. He says all he had remaining were clothes and some of his sneakers, which “God had allowed him to put aside.”

His prideful side admits he had those items because despite what life throws him, he never wants to look like what he’s going through. It’s a philosophy he attributes to his upbringing in Chicago.

Discovering CSM Angels Refuge

 If the average person is honest, most are one or two paychecks from homelessness. Being a military veteran doesn’t come with an automatic exemption. Non-profits, such as CSM Angels Refuge, partner with the Department of Veteran Affairs to ensure veterans have furniture and other essential items once housing becomes available.

Tucker has another interesting story regarding how his caseworker, Ms. Kellogg, connected him to Charles Jenkins, CSM Angels Refuge's founder and CEO.

Ms. Kellogg had exhausted all options for getting him furniture for his new place. It was a simple issue of his zip code. Tuckers' new place was outside the service area. Luckily, CSM Angels Refuge was willing to go the extra mile to assist a veteran in need.

“Mr. Jenkins also said he doesn't normally deliver to this ZIP code, but through miraculous wonders, he  made it happen.”  Tucker explains, “First, a lady had called just before me with furniture she wanted to donate.” He said, “This is not happenstance. She's donating furniture, and you're calling for furniture.”  Jenkins felt God was in the mix to help stabilize Tucker’s life.

Volunteers from Veterans Helping Veterans assisted with the move. Tuckers says there was a sense of camaraderie during the move, “we were like buddies. We took pictures together I helped them unload because I didn’t want them to take on the full burden.”

CSM Angels Refuge was instrumental in securing a living room, dining room, and bedroom set. They also provided dinnerware and cookware sets, towels, and a food package. Tucker makes a point to note that everything was of high quality. Even so, he’s still reminded of the precious memories he’ll never get to display in his new home.

Tucker's last obstacle to finally calling his place home is getting his electricity turned on. He shares that he had an outstanding balance of $68 from 2014. The power company wanted a deposit of $390, which he doesn’t have. The VA was working with an organization that would put $1,000 into an account from which the power company could draw. His prayer was to have electricity for his birthday, on May 10th.

The Pathway to New Beginnings

Daryl Tucker's journey is not unique but is a testimony to his resilience. Being forced to choose between jail or the military possibly saved his life. Despite his hardships, he remains hopeful that better days are on the horizon.

If you are a homeless veteran in the Atlanta area or know a veteran struggling with being unhoused, CSM Angels Refuge is here to help. We encourage you to visit our website to learn more about our non-profit.

Serving our veterans is an act of love, but it’s not sustainable on donations of furniture and other household goods. Please consider making a monetary donation today.