Private First Class Lacy Tackett 35428284 US Army was born on May 30, 1920, in Virgie, Kentucky. He was the son of James Ervin Tackett and Hannah Tackett. Before he enlisted, he was working for Koppers Coal Company. He entered the US Army on April 22, 1942 at the age of 21. At the time of his enlistment, he was 5 foot 8 inches tall weighed 148 pounds had brown hair and Blue Eyes. He served in the 1282nd engineers he left the 1282nd engineers on July 21 1944 entering A Battery, 861st Field Artillery battalion, 63rd Infantry Division. He went overseas to Europe in the winter of 1944. He earned his first Bronze Star Medal for Meritorious service for his action on February 17 – 19 1945 in the vicinity of Auersmacher Germany.
On April 5, 1945 First Lieutenant James E. Robinson, Jr., Forward Observer team was PFC John C. Sullivan, and T/4 Robert G. Wilkins both men were wounded on April 5, 1945. Lt. Robinson was assigned T/5 Charles D. Moody, and PVT Lacy Tackett as his Forward Observer team. They were imbedded with Company A, 253rd Infantry Regiment, 63rd Infantry Division. At 0400 hours on April 6, 1945 they started advancing from Untergriesheim (this is point (1) on the map) with A Company, 253rd Infantry Regiment, 63rd Infantry Division. At 1155 hours the company was at point (10) on the map below between the towns of Herbolzhei, and Kressbach First Lieutenant James E. Robinson, T/5 Charles D. Moody, and Private Tackett were all occupying an exposed position in order to direct artillery fire on the enemy. T/5 Charles D. Moody was serving as the reconnaissance sergeant. In the face of intense enemy fire, and without regard for personal safety, T/5 Moody held his position and assisted the forward observer in directing artillery fire on the enemy emplacements until resistance ceased. At 1155 Moody was killed by a Sniper. Tackett took over Moody’s roll as a reconnaissance sergeant and continued to occupy these exposed positions until he was shot in the Penis, testicles, and leg by most likely the same sniper that had just killed Moody. First Lieutenant James E. Robinson, Jr. took the 78 pound SCR 610, radio from Moody and Tackett knowing that Robinson would have to call in artillery support. Private Tackett was evacuated from the field quickly.
Private Tackett returned to duty with A Battery, 861st Field Artillery battalion, 63rd Infantry Division. On August 14, 1945 he was transferred to the 36th Infantry Division. He was discharged from the US Army on October 5, 1945 at the age of 25. He was awarded the Combat Infantry Badge, the Bronze Star Medal with V and 2 Oak Leaf clusters, the Purple Heart Medal, the Good Conduct Medal, The American Theater of operations Medal, the European Theater of Operations Medal ETO with 2 battle stars, the World War Two Victory Medal, and the Army of Occupation Medal.
After his discharge he went home to his wife Leatha Hall Tackett and they had one son and two daughters. Lacy Tackett died on September 18, 1984, in Lexington, Kentucky, at the age of 64, and was buried in Pike, Kentucky.
1- 63rd Division Records
2- https://aad.archives.gov/aad/record-detail.jsp?dt=893&mtch=1&cat=all&tf=F&q=35428284&bc=sl,sd&rpp=10&pg=1&rid=5696593
3- 1930 United States Federal Census
4- 1940 United States Federal Census
5- Kentucky, U.S., Death Index, 1911-2000
6- U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947
7- the U.S., Department of Veterans Affairs BIRLS Death File, 1850-2010
8- U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014
