Thomas Francis Buckley, Jr., was the son of Thomas Francis "Tom" Buckley, Sr., and Clyda Belle Loeb. He was their only child. He attended Holy Rosary School in Stuttgart, Arkansas and graduated from Stuttgart High School after attending Little Rock High School for a time.
Buckley enlisted in the United States Marine Corps on 8/19/1942 and received his boot camp training in San Diego and Camp Pendleton, California. After graduation from boot camp he volunteered for training as a Marine Raider and earned the title after several months of intensive combat training. On 2/9/1943, Buckley was shipped out to the South Pacific with Company "B", 4th Marine Raider Battalion Battalion. He embarked aboard the USS President Polk (APA-103), at San Diego, and arrived on 3/1/1943, at Espiritu Santo Island, New Hebrides Islands. On 3/22/1943 the designation of the 4th Marine Raider Battalion changed to the 4th Raider Battalion, 1st Marine Raider Regiment, 1st Marine Amphibious Corps and Buckley's company was changed to Company "O" two days later. On 6/20/1943, he sailed on the USS DENT (APD-9) and arrived at Tetere, Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands. On 6/27/1943, Companies O and P embarked in rubber boats at Segi Point, New Georgia, and debarked on 6/28/43 at Regi Village, New Georgia, and began an overland march to Viru Harbor.
Buckley saw action at Viru Harbor. He was gravely wounded in battle against Japanese forces at Tetemara Village and died at New Georgia, Solomon Islands, on 7/1/1943.
Private Thomas Francis Buckley, Jr., Sn #414768, earned the following badges/decorations during his service in World War II:
- Purple Heart (posthumously)
- Combat Action Ribbon
- Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal (posthumously)
- Asiatic-Pacific Theater of Operations Campaign Medal with one bronze battle star
- World War II Victory Medal
- Marksmanship Bar
- Qualification Badge with 2 bars
Buckley enlisted in the United States Marine Corps on 8/19/1942 and received his boot camp training in San Diego and Camp Pendleton, California. After graduation from boot camp he volunteered for training as a Marine Raider and earned the title after several months of intensive combat training. On 2/9/1943, Buckley was shipped out to the South Pacific with Company "B", 4th Marine Raider Battalion Battalion. He embarked aboard the USS President Polk (APA-103), at San Diego, and arrived on 3/1/1943, at Espiritu Santo Island, New Hebrides Islands. On 3/22/1943 the designation of the 4th Marine Raider Battalion changed to the 4th Raider Battalion, 1st Marine Raider Regiment, 1st Marine Amphibious Corps and Buckley's company was changed to Company "O" two days later. On 6/20/1943, he sailed on the USS DENT (APD-9) and arrived at Tetere, Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands. On 6/27/1943, Companies O and P embarked in rubber boats at Segi Point, New Georgia, and debarked on 6/28/43 at Regi Village, New Georgia, and began an overland march to Viru Harbor.
Buckley saw action at Viru Harbor. He was gravely wounded in battle against Japanese forces at Tetemara Village and died at New Georgia, Solomon Islands, on 7/1/1943.
Private Thomas Francis Buckley, Jr., Sn #414768, earned the following badges/decorations during his service in World War II:
- Purple Heart (posthumously)
- Combat Action Ribbon
- Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal (posthumously)
- Asiatic-Pacific Theater of Operations Campaign Medal with one bronze battle star
- World War II Victory Medal
- Marksmanship Bar
- Qualification Badge with 2 bars
Thomas Francis Buckley, Jr., was the son of Thomas Francis "Tom" Buckley, Sr., and Clyda Belle Loeb. He was their only child. He attended Holy Rosary School in Stuttgart, Arkansas and graduated from Stuttgart High School after attending Little Rock High School for a time.
Buckley enlisted in the United States Marine Corps on 8/19/1942 and received his boot camp training in San Diego and Camp Pendleton, California. After graduation from boot camp he volunteered for training as a Marine Raider and earned the title after several months of intensive combat training. On 2/9/1943, Buckley was shipped out to the South Pacific with Company "B", 4th Marine Raider Battalion Battalion. He embarked aboard the USS President Polk (APA-103), at San Diego, and arrived on 3/1/1943, at Espiritu Santo Island, New Hebrides Islands. On 3/22/1943 the designation of the 4th Marine Raider Battalion changed to the 4th Raider Battalion, 1st Marine Raider Regiment, 1st Marine Amphibious Corps and Buckley's company was changed to Company "O" two days later. On 6/20/1943, he sailed on the USS DENT (APD-9) and arrived at Tetere, Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands. On 6/27/1943, Companies O and P embarked in rubber boats at Segi Point, New Georgia, and debarked on 6/28/43 at Regi Village, New Georgia, and began an overland march to Viru Harbor.
Buckley saw action at Viru Harbor. He was gravely wounded in battle against Japanese forces at Tetemara Village and died at New Georgia, Solomon Islands, on 7/1/1943.
Private Thomas Francis Buckley, Jr., Sn #414768, earned the following badges/decorations during his service in World War II:
- Purple Heart (posthumously)
- Combat Action Ribbon
- Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal (posthumously)
- Asiatic-Pacific Theater of Operations Campaign Medal with one bronze battle star
- World War II Victory Medal
- Marksmanship Bar
- Qualification Badge with 2 bars
Buckley enlisted in the United States Marine Corps on 8/19/1942 and received his boot camp training in San Diego and Camp Pendleton, California. After graduation from boot camp he volunteered for training as a Marine Raider and earned the title after several months of intensive combat training. On 2/9/1943, Buckley was shipped out to the South Pacific with Company "B", 4th Marine Raider Battalion Battalion. He embarked aboard the USS President Polk (APA-103), at San Diego, and arrived on 3/1/1943, at Espiritu Santo Island, New Hebrides Islands. On 3/22/1943 the designation of the 4th Marine Raider Battalion changed to the 4th Raider Battalion, 1st Marine Raider Regiment, 1st Marine Amphibious Corps and Buckley's company was changed to Company "O" two days later. On 6/20/1943, he sailed on the USS DENT (APD-9) and arrived at Tetere, Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands. On 6/27/1943, Companies O and P embarked in rubber boats at Segi Point, New Georgia, and debarked on 6/28/43 at Regi Village, New Georgia, and began an overland march to Viru Harbor.
Buckley saw action at Viru Harbor. He was gravely wounded in battle against Japanese forces at Tetemara Village and died at New Georgia, Solomon Islands, on 7/1/1943.
Private Thomas Francis Buckley, Jr., Sn #414768, earned the following badges/decorations during his service in World War II:
- Purple Heart (posthumously)
- Combat Action Ribbon
- Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal (posthumously)
- Asiatic-Pacific Theater of Operations Campaign Medal with one bronze battle star
- World War II Victory Medal
- Marksmanship Bar
- Qualification Badge with 2 bars
Gravesite Details
Entered the service from Arkansas.
Family Members
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