Lucky Bag Yearbook

From the 1963 Lucky Bag:

KENNETH RICHARD BUELL

Ken came to us from Kankakee, Illinois, but has since changed his hometown to Milwaukee. Ken attended Purdue University, but after one year he decided to try the Navy, and entered boot camp at Great Lakes, Illinois. Upon completion of boot camp and electronics school at Great Lakes, he entered the Academy and joined the Twelfth Company. Throughout his tour here at the Academy, Ken has shown himself well on the academic scales, being a consistent member of the elite Superintendent’s List. He also finds time for tennis, football, and various other battalion sports. He likewise has assisted on the Brigade Activities Committee and is always willing to tutor those who don’t find academics as lucid as he. An avid enthusiast of flying, Ken hopes to work aviation into his future career.

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He was also a member of the 1st Regiment staff (fall).

Loss

Kenneth was killed in action on September 17, 1972 when his A-6 Intruder was shot down near Hai Duong, North Vietnam. His pilot was also lost; they were members of Attack Squadron (VA) 35 and flew from USS America (CVA 66).

Other Information

From researcher Kathy Franz:

Kenneth graduated from Kankakee High School in 1957.

At Purdue University, Kenneth participated in the Big Brother program whereby each freshman was assigned one of the upperclassman to offer advice and guidance.

From The Fallen 15:

Lieutenant Commander Kenneth Richard Buell was born in Louisville, KY August 24, 1939. His parents Louis and Libby Buell later retired in Yellow Springs, Ohio. He joined the U.S. Navy after graduating from Kankakee Illinois High School in 1957 and attending Purdue University in 1958. After boot camp at Great Lakes RTC in 1958, he attended Electronics “A” School and was subsequently accepted into the Naval Academy Prep School in Newport, RI and later graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy on June 5, 1963. He was accepted into the Naval Air Observer program and earned his NAO wings in Corpus Christi, TX in 1964. His first assignment was with AEWRON 13 in Argentina, Newfound serving as a navigator aboard the Constellation aircraft working the DEW Line from 1964-1965. His next assignment was with AIRDEVRON 6 out of Quonset Point, RI making several flights to Antarctica navigating a C-130 from 1965-1967. After serving as an instructor at the USNA in Annapolis, MD from 1968-1970 he was assigned to VA-42 at NAS Oceana VA and trained as a Bombardier Navigator (BN) on the A-6A Intruder. He then served with Attack Squadron 35. He was the BN/naval flight officer aboard the A-6 Intruder when it disappeared, his remains were not recovered and still classified as MIA. Today, Lieutenant Commander Buell is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, on the wall of Bancroft Hall in Annapolis, MD and at Woodland Cemetery in Xenia, Ohio.

Ken was survived by his wife, son, and parents. (As of 2017 his son was a Navy Commander.)

He has a memory marker in Ohio; he is also listed at the Courts of the Missing in Hawaii.

Photographs

Source

“BN VA-35 Black Panthers, Oceana, Virginia”

From his 1956 high school yearbook

From his 1956 high school yearbook

Remembrances

From Wall of Faces:

Remembering my father

17 Sep 1972…it has been 42 years since you departed the USS America strapped into your A-6 Intruder for another night time attack mission over N. Vietnam. What you did was incredibly brave and selfless. Still MIA and hoping for the return of your remains in the near future so we can finally have a funeral for you. You are not forgotten and your memory and service is still alive. With admiration, your loving son Rick. RICK BUELL, CDR, SC, USN, RICHARD.BUELL49@GMAIL.COM, 1/9/15

Ken was my best friend, the one buddy that I could always count on! We shared much, both the good and the not so good that you experience in adolescence. You are in my thoughts and I await your return home. ROBERT D MOORE, 5/28/03

Dad,

Hard to believe it’s been 30 years since our paths together changed forever. I was only five when I got the news and time has stood still in some ways ever since.

I wanted you to know you have a daughter-in-law named Kimberly, a granddaughter named Alexis and a grandson named Evan who listen to stories about you to keep your memory alive.

I just wanted you to know I was promoted LCDR a couple months ago and I am wearing your collar devices to honor you and all those who served this great nation.

We will never forget you and look forward to closure upon your return to American soil.

Peace and love from your growing family.

Rick, Kim, Alexis and Evan Buell LCDR RICHARD CRAIG BUELL, 9/19/02

Ken was a graduate of the Naval Academy and he and I served together in VA-35 1970 - 1972. We had a lot of common interests, our kids were about the same age and we became great friends. Ken was an outstanding A-6 Bombardier Navigator and that is why he was flying with Commander Verne Donnelly, Commanding Officer of VA-35 when they were shot down. I will never forget the day I received the news of their loss. Both were good friends and squadron mates. I wear Ken’s bracelet to this day and will continue to do so until he comes home. I would give about anything for one more night of liberty with these two. Maybe later!! MICHAEL MUNSON, BIGJULIE6@JUNO.COM, 5/30/01