General Simon Bolivar Buckner Jr.
U.S. Army, Killed In Action (KIA) at Itoman on Okinawa

Background
Simon Bolivar Buckner Jr. was born July 18, 1886 in Munfordville, Kentucky to parents Simon Bolivar Buckner and Delia Hayes Claiborne. His father, Simon Bolivar Buckner graduated West Point and served in the U.S. Army and during the Civil War accepted a commission in the Confederacy with the rank of Brigadier General until he surrendered on February 16, 1862 at Fort Donelson to Union Brigadier General Ulysses S. Grant and became a Prisoner Of War (POW) until exchanged on August 15, 1862 and returned to the Confederacy and promoted to the rank of Major General and joined General Bragg's Army of the Mississippi in Chattanooga, Tennessee and postwar became the Governor of Kentucky when Simon Bolivar Buckner Jr. was born.

In 1896 at age 5, Buckner Jr. accompanied his father then age 73 on the campaign trail as the Vice-Presidential candidate for Presidential candidate John M. Palmer for the National Democratic Party a splinter party that received just over 1% of the vote with William McKinley winning the election.

As a youth, Buckner Jr. attended Virginia Military Institute (VMI) class of 1904. When he graduated at age 18, his father asked U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt to grant him an appointment to the U.S. Military Academy (USMA) at West Point class of 1908. Afterwards, he served two tours in the Philippines, and wrote about his adventures in Tales of the Philippines – In the Early 1900s.

During World War I, he served as a temporary Major and trained aviator cadets. In the inter-war period, he attended military schools including four years at West Point, a year at Fort Benning and four year at Fort Leavenworth, one year as a student and three years as an instructor. Next, four years at Army War College, one year as a student and three years as an executive officer. Finally, four more years at West Point as assistant commandant and commandant of cadets.

In September 1936 became executive officer of 23rd Infantry Regiment at Fort Sam Houston. In January 1937 promoted to the rank of Colonel and became commander of 66th Infantry (Light Tank) at Fort Meade in Maryland. In September 1938 became commander of the 22nd Infantry at Fort McClellan in Alabama. In November 1939 until August 1940 became 6th Division Chief of Staff at Camp Jackson in South Carolina. Afterwards, assigned to Fort Benning in Georgia and Camp Beauregard in Louisiana.

During 1940, promoted to the rank of Brigadier General and took command the Alaska Defense Command based at Fort Richardson in Anchorage in Alaska. In August 1941 promoted to the rank of Major General.

Wartime History
During the Pacific War, Buckner was responsible for the defense of Alaska. On October 29, 1942 Buckner flew as a passenger aboard an aircraft over Tanaga, Amchitka, and Kiska in the Aleutian Islands. Later, he oversaw the U.S. landings on Attu and Kiska. In 1943, promoted to the rank of Lieutenant General.

During July 1944, Buckner was sent to Hawaii to organize the Tenth Army the included both U.S. Army and U.S. Marine Corps units for Operation Causeway the planned invasion of Formosa (Taiwan) that was canceled and instead will participate in Operation Iceberg the invasion of Okinawa.

On April 1, 1945 commands the U.S. Army Tenth Army X Corps during the Battle of Okinawa. On May 9, 1945 Buckner orders a general attack by Army to begin two days later and insisted on frontal assaults against dug-in Japanese positions that result in heavy American casualties. On May 17, 1945 Buckner takes control of all forces ashore and is responsible for defense and development of captured positions. Later, Buckner failed to realize the Japanese were pulling back to a defensive line in southern Okinawa.

Killed In Action
On June 18, 1945 Buckner in his command jeep with a 3 star flag drove to an observation post of 8th Marines, 2d Marine Division on a hilltop at Itoman on southern Okinawa. At the time, the position was approximately 300 yards behind the front lines where Marines were advancing on Ibaru Ridge defended by the Japanese. Wearing a helmet with three stars and a Marine outpost sent a signal saying they could see his rank and Buckner changed to an unmarked helmet. Buckner was photographed standing on the hilltop, this was the last picture taken of him.

Moments later, Japanese artillery shell, estimated to be 47mm shell hit a nearby coral outcrop and Buckner was hit in the chest by shell fragments and was immediately evacuated on a stretcher to a nearby aid station and died on the operating table. He was the highest ranking General killed during World War II. Posthumously, promoted to the rank of General. Afterwards, replaced by U.S. Marine Corps General Roy Geiger.

Recovery of Remains
Afterwards, his remains were recovered and buried on Okinawa. Postwar, his remains were transported to the United States for permanent burial.

Memorials
Buckner is buried at Frankfort Cemetery in Frankfort, Kentucky. His father, Simon Bolivar Buckner is buried nearby at section I, lot 464, grave 3.

On the hilltop he was killed at Itoman on southern Okinawa is a memorial dedicated to General Buckner (Buckner Monument). The memorial plaque reads: "Lt. General Simon Bolivar Buckner Jr Killed on this spot 18 June 1945 Battle of Okinawa."

On Okinawa, Nakagusuku Bay was named "Buckner Bay" in his honor.

Fort Buckner, an Army sub-post of U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) Camp Foster on Okinawa, is the home to the 78th Signal Battalion and E Co. of the 53rd Signal Battalion and includes a small memorial dedicated to Buckner.

In the middle of 1946, USS Admiral E. W. Eberle (AP-123) was renamed USAT General Simon B. Buckner (T-AP-123) in his honor.

At United States Military Academy, (USMA) West Point, Camp Buckner, is named for Buckner.

At Fort Richardson, the Buckner Gymnasium is named in his honor, as a post the general established in World War II.

The Buckner Building in Whittier, Alaska is named in his honor.

Buckner Drive in the Nunaka Valley subdivision originally built as military housing is named in his honor.

Buckner Drive in Fort Leavenworth's Normandy Village.

Buckner Avenue in Fort George Meade's Heritage Park.

Buckner Gate at Fort Shafter on Oahu in Hawaii.

At Fort McClellan, the Headquarters Building is named Buckner Hall. Also Buckner Circle where where the senior officer homes are located is named in his honor.

Buckner Road in Woodlawn Manor neighborhood in Mount Vernon, Virginia is named in his honor.

Awards
Distinguished Service Cross (DSC), Army Distinguished Service Medal, Navy Distinguished Service Medal and the Purple Heart, posthumously. Posthumously, Buckner was promoted to the rank of four-star General on July 19, 1954 by a Special Act of Congress under Public Law 83-508.

Relatives
Simon Bolivar Buckner (father)
Delia Hayes Claiborne Buckner (mother)
Lily Buckner Belknap (sister)

References
FindAGrave - Simon Bolivar Buckner, Sr (grave photo)
FindAGrave - Simon Bolivar Buckner, Jr (photo, grave photo)

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