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Charles Joseph Buckley
Private First Class
MABS-13, MAG-13, 1ST MAW, III MAF United States Marine Corps Philadelphia, Pennsylvania October 17, 1949 to December 21, 1968 CHARLES J BUCKLEY is on the Wall at Panel W36, Line 55 |
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The photo and following article is taken from The Philadelphia Daily News, special supplement entitled 'SIX HUNDRED AND THIRTY,' October 26, 1987. The special supplement was issued in conjunction with the dedication of the Philadelphia Viet Nam Memorial. "Charley" Buckley wanted to be where the action was. He left Cardinal Dougherty High School, enlisted in the Marine Corps at 17 and volunteered to go to Viet Nam. The private first class served as a plumbing and water supply man. He loved the Marines, his mother said, but like many soldiers, became homesick around the holidays. Buckley was assigned to Marine Air Group 13 of the 1st Marine Air Wing. He died in Chu Lai, Quang Tin Province, four days before Christmas 1968, at the age of 19. Survivors included his parents and a brother. Buckley Park, at Germantown Avenue and E. Hartwell Lane, was dedicated in memory of the young Marine. SEMPER FIDELIS, MARINE!
From a native Philadelphian and Marine, |
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Buck was a friend. I think of him often.
Steve Whalen |
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While serving on board the USS Bainbrige (DLGN 25), we were on patrol duty in 1965 in the Gulf of Tonkin to provide support for the carrier Enterprise and to be ready to pickup downed flyers. Shortly after that several of us volunteered for in-country duty. I was not taken due to my nuclear MOS. Six others were also denied but 2 were taken. Over the years, I have often wondered how they fared and kept a list of all the volunteers' names in my wallet, in case I ever came face to face with this wall. I am very relieved to find that none of them are listed here. After serving ten years in the Navy, I was discharged in June of 1967. My uncle died and is buried in France from WW1. I have seen the Buckley name on various monuments covering wars from the Civil War at Antietam in Maryland to the Korean conflict. I naturally had to see if there were Buckleys listed on The Virtual Wall. When I did a search and saw your name listed second, my heart skipped a few beats. This may sound stupid, but I always felt that I should have been sent there since I had volunteered. Even though I was never in-country, I always felt as though I had a closer connection to those that were there. I could never explain this feeling through all these years and would become overly emotional when I thought about it or when Vietnam was the topic of discussion. I know some of that feeling was due to anger and sadness over the loss of so many young people for nothing. I don't know how it happens but I believe fate sent you in my place. My biggest regret is the loss you and your family suffered. I now believe that I wasn't taken because I was meant to adopt 3 Korean kids. I am very sorry that you had to take my place. I didn't know you personally, but I could never forget you, because I, also, am
Charles Joseph Buckley |
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