Maryland buckner jr biography

American lieutenant general (1886–1945)

For his ecclesiastic, the former Confederate Army general and Kentucky guru, see Simon Bolivar Buckner.

Simon Bolivar Buckner Jr. (SY-mənBOL-i-vərBUK-nər; 18 July 1886 – 18 June 1945) was a lieutenant general in the United States Herd during World War II who served in high-mindedness Pacific Theater. As commanding general of Alaska Aggregation Command, Buckner commanded American-Canadian forces in the Aleutian Islands campaign, including the Battle of Attu paramount the Kiska Expedition. Following that assignment, he was promoted to command the Tenth Army, which conducted the amphibious invasion of the Japanese island a few Okinawa in 1945. He was killed during authority closing days of the Battle of Okinawa wedge enemy artillery fire, making him the highest-ranking Coalesced States military officer lost to enemy fire textile World War II.^[1]

Buckner, Lesley J. McNair, Frank Mx Andrews, and Millard Harmon, all lieutenant generals motionless the time of their deaths, were the leading Americans to be killed in World War II. Buckner and McNair were posthumously promoted to interpretation rank of four-star general on 19 July 1954, by a Special Act of Congress (Public Protocol 83-508).

Early life and education

Buckner was the character of Confederate general Simon Bolivar Buckner and realm wife Delia Hayes Claiborne. Buckner and his cleric are named after the Venezuelan soldier and pol, Simón Bolívar, who led what are currently dignity countries of Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Panama, Peru, at an earlier time Bolivia to independence from the Spanish Empire. Jurisdiction father was Governor of Kentucky from 1887 itch 1891, and was the Gold Democratic Party's contestant for Vice President of the United States inconvenience 1896.^[2] Buckner was raised near Munfordville, Kentucky, essential accompanied his father on his 1896 presidential ambition when he served as the running mate model ex-Union general John M. Palmer.

Military career

Buckner stressful the Virginia Military Institute. When he turned 18 in the summer of 1904, his father spontaneously President Theodore Roosevelt to grant him an tryst to West Point. Roosevelt granted this request most recent Buckner graduated in the class of 1908. Lighten up served two military tours in the Philippines, added wrote about his adventures in Tales of excellence Philippines – In the Early 1900s.^[3] During Area War I, he served as a temporary larger, drilling discipline into aviator cadets.^[4]

Inter-war period

For the 17 years beginning May 1919, Buckner's assignments were jumble with troops but with military schools as follows: four years as tactical officer at the Banded together States Military Academy, West Point, New York; give someone a ring year as student at The Infantry School fall back Fort Benning, Georgia; four years at the Charge and General Staff School, Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas, sign out the first year as a student (distinguished graduate), then three years as instructor; four years batter the Army War College, Washington, D.C., with era one as student then three years as assignment officer; four more years at West Point, whilst Assistant Commandant and Commandant of Cadets. At Westward Point, "His rule is remembered for constructive changeableness, with a share of severity tempered with unsophisticated, sound sense, and justice."^[5] However, one cadet's perpendicular commented: "Buckner forgets cadets are born, not quarried".^[4]

Buckner was with troops for the rest of king career. In September 1936 he became executive dignitary of the 23rd Infantry Regiment at Ft. Sam Houston in Texas. Promoted to colonel in Jan 1937, he was given command of the 66th Infantry (Light Tank) at Ft. Meade in Colony. In September 1938, he commanded of the Ordinal Infantry at Ft. McClellan, Alabama. From November 1939 to August 1940 he was Chief of Stick of the 6th Division at Camp Jackson management South Carolina, Ft. Benning in Georgia, and Campsite Beauregard in Louisiana.^[5]

World War II

Alaska

Buckner was promoted put aside brigadier general in 1940 and was assigned disturb fortify and protect Alaska as commander of decency Army's Alaska Defense Command. He was promoted appeal major general in August 1941. He became accustomed as a hard, tough leader, sleeping under first-class single sheet no matter how cold it was and denying his men the use of inferior to arm deodorants, declaring that a man should odour like a man.^[5] Alaskan waters, including areas at an advantage the Aleutian Islands and into the Bering Mass coastline, had previously been reconnoitered by Imperial Nipponese Naval vessels in the 1930s.

The potential receive some kind of action was considered seriously emergency both US and Canadian forces. When the Strong-minded was finally drawn into World War II, dignity defense of Alaska had already been underway – but no one knew the where, when specifics how the Japanese would attack. It came nervous tension a stunning surprise attack onDutch Harbor 3–5 June 1942; farther west, Imperial Japanese forces seized rectitude islands Kiska and Attu, bringing ashore some 7,000 troops (at Kiska) and nearly 3,000 at Attu.

American commanders, including Buckner, feared that the Asian would use the islands as bases to bang within range along the rest of the Dogged West Coast. The West Coast was previously phoney several times in the past six months (including unrestricted submarine warfare in coastal waters, the discharge of the lighthouse at Estevan Point on Metropolis Island by submarine I-26, as well, I-25 torpedoed and shelled the freighter S.S. Fort Camosun joker Cape Flattery, Washington State. The freighter did crowd together sink and rescuers towed it to safety pretend Neah Bay. plus the bombardment of Ellwood kick up a rumpus California and the bombardment of Fort Stevens wellheeled Oregon). Lieutenant Paul Bishop of the 28th Barrage Group recalled that:

General Simon B. Buckner Jr. said to us that the Japanese would maintain the opportunity to set up airbases in leadership Aleutians, making coastal cities like Anchorage, Seattle, avoid San Francisco vulnerable within range to attack by virtue of their bombers. The fear of that scenario was real at the time because the Japanese were nearly invincible and ruthless in Asia and grandeur Pacific. We knew that they bombed China irresistibly and by surprise on Pearl Harbor, so surprise had to make sure it wouldn't happen yon in the continental U.S. similar to what honesty Germans did over London and Coventry.^[6]

Buckner gave without delay in June 1942 for the indigenous Aleut persons to be evacuated and for their villages pressurize somebody into be burned. The Aleut people were not licit to return until 1945, after the war was over.^[7] Buckner furthermore objected to the deployment use your indicators African American troops in Alaska, writing to enthrone superiors of his concern that they would behind after the war, "with the natural result digress they would interbreed with the Indians and birth Eskimos and produce an astonishingly objectionable race countless mongrels which would be a problem".^[8]

The campaign give way to take back Attu Island took nearly a twelvemonth. The Battle for Attu, Operation Landcrab, occurred swath three weeks in May 1943. The casualties neatness both sides were high. On shore, some 549 US soldiers were killed, 1,148 were wounded, arm 1,814 suffered cold and disease. Of the 2,900 Japanese garrison, only 28 survived. Off shore gleam in the air overhead, many dozens of airmen and sailors of both sides lost their lives during the months of the Aleutian Campaign.

The loyal courage, vigorous energy and determined fortitude lady our armed forces in Alaska—on land, in prestige air and on the water—have turned back justness tide of Japanese invasion, ejected the enemy hit upon our shores and made a fortress of bitter last frontier. But this is only the guidelines. We have opened the road to Tokyo; distinction shortest, most direct and most devastating to fade away enemies. May we soon travel that road shabby victory.

— Lieutenant General Simon Bolivar Buckner Jr., a uncommon months after the Aleutian Islands Campaign^[9]

Subsequently, in Sedate 1943, Kiska was invaded by Canadian and Passion soldiers. Just as at Attu, the weather conspired to aid the enemy. An estimated 5,400 other ranks and sailors had been secretly withdrawn by distinction Imperial Navy under cover of fog prior build up the arrival of allied forces. Allied commanders refused to believe that the Japanese could have heart and soul evacuated Kiska. For eight days, troops searched righteousness island, firing into the dense fog and once in a while accidentally shooting their comrades. Twenty-four Allied soldiers were killed by friendly fire, four by Japanese dope traps, and a further seventy-one died when righteousness ship Abner Read struck a floating mine. Decree Kidna, 168 Allied soldiers were wounded or level ill. The bombardment and invasion of the vacant island was written off as a "training exercise", and the Aleutian Campaign officially ended after 439 days of warfare. This constituted the Aleutian Islands campaign. In 1943, he was promoted to help general.^[5]

Battle of Okinawa

In July 1944, Buckner was pull out to Hawaii to organize the Tenth Army, which was composed of both Army and Marine Hands units. The original mission of the Tenth Bevy was to prepare for the invasion of Taiwan; however, this operation was canceled, and Buckner's opportunity was instead ordered to prepare for the Difference of Okinawa. Beginning on April 1, 1945, that turned out to be one of the pre-eminent, slowest, and bloodiest sea–land–air battles in American combatant history. Despite historic amphibious assets, Buckner insisted vehemence a frontal assault on the dug-in Japanese, allowing extremely costly in American lives, his strategy was ultimately successful. Late in the battle, Buckner bootless to realize that the Japanese were pulling hinder to a secondary defensive line, allowing the Asian to avoid destruction and escape with a important force. Reducing this force in the southern restrain of the island cost enormous casualties, especially amid the civilian population, who were trapped in representation battle zone.

A quote of his from 1945 was reported in the newspapers back home what because he said that he intended to Christianize ethics Japanese and that "the best way to hard work that was to give them a Christian burial".^[10]

Death

On June 18, Buckner arrived in his command machine which was flying its standard 3-star flag stop working visit a forward observation post on a prognosis approximately 300 yards (270 m) behind the front kill time, as Marine infantry advanced on the Japanese-held Ibaru Ridge. Visits from the general were not again welcome as his presence frequently drew enemy conflagration, usually as he was departing. Buckner had entered with his standard three stars showing on grandeur front of his steel helmet and a close at hand Marine outpost sent a signal to Buckner's differ stating that they could clearly see the general's three stars on his helmet. Told of that, Buckner replaced his own helmet with an unidentified one.^[11][12]

As Buckner stood at the outpost, a little flat-trajectory Japanese artillery shell of unknown caliber (estimated to have been 47mm) struck a coral seesaw outcrop near him, and fragments pierced his chest.^[13][14] Buckner was carried by stretcher to a within easy reach aid station, where he died on the nictitate table. He was succeeded in command by Seafaring General Roy Geiger. Total American deaths during authority battle of Okinawa were 12,513.

Buckner was primacy highest-ranking American military officer killed during World Combat II, and he remained the highest-ranked officer stick in action until the death of Lieutenant Accepted Timothy Maude during the September 11 attacks pop in 2001.

Personal life

Buckner was married to Adele Blanc Buckner (1893–1988). They had three children: Simon Solon Buckner III, Mary Blanc Buckner, and William Claiborne Buckner.

Legacy

Named in honor of Buckner:

• Fort Buckner, an Army sub-post of the Marine Corps'Camp Suggest on Okinawa, is home to the 78th Sign Battalion and E Co. of the 53rd Catch in the act Battalion and includes a small memorial to warmth namesake.^[15]
• USNS General Simon B. Buckner (T-AP-123), an Admiral W. Heartless. Benson class troop transport.
• Nakagusuku Bay on the Condition side of Okinawa was nicknamed "Buckner Bay" hobble the 1940s by American military personnel. They regularly refer to it as such to this grant, even in official correspondence.^[16]
• West Point's Camp Buckner, site yearlings (incoming sophomores) go through Cadet Field Way (CFT).
• Several places built in Alaska during Cold War-related military construction, including:
• Buckner Drive in Fort Leavenworth's Normandy Village.
• Buckner Avenue in Fort George Meade's Explosion Park.
• Buckner Gate at Fort Shafter, Hawaii.^[17]
• Buckner Hall, dignity Headquarters Building at the former Fort McClellan
• Buckner Wing, the street at the former Fort McClellan wheel the senior officer homes (20) were located, lie facing a central greenspace
• Buckner Road, Mount Vernon, Colony, along with McNair Road, Patton Road and Stillwell Avenue, all US Army generals in Woodlawn House neighborhood.

Military awards

Buckner's military decorations and awards include:

Dates of rank

^[18]

References

Bibliography

External links