More detail on this person: Lewis Eugene "Buck" Buchanan. Graduated flight school with Flight
Class 70-19, flew in Vietnam with D Troop, 3/5th Cav (1970-1971)under the Crusader 33 callsign.
LTC (R) Lewis Eugene "Buck" Buchanan, the consummate warrior, was born on Johnson Air Force
Base in Japan on May 18, 1950 and passed away on June 8, 2012. Buck graduated from Itazuke High
School in Japan in 1968, graduated summa cum laude from Chaminade College in Hawaii with a degree
in business and earned his Master's in Public Administrator from the University of Missouri in
Kansas City. Buck was interested in everything and maintained a lifelong pursuit of learning.
Buck joined the Army in 1969 at age 19. He did his Basic Training at Fort Polk, Louisiana, and his
warrant officer flight training at Fort Wolters, Texas, Fort Rucker, Alabama, and Fort Stewart,
Georgia. He served a year in Vietnam with D Troop, 3/5 Cavalry in 1970-71. This began a career of
cavalry assignments, spanning tours in Fort Hood, Schofield Barracks, Fort Rucker, Fort Knox and
Fulda (Germany). He took a direct commission from Chief Warrant Officer 3 to Captain in 1981, and
in his subsequent assignments served tours with Special Operations (Delta), the Command and General
Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) at Fort Monroe, ROTC at
the University of South Carolina, and 24th Infantry Division at Fort Jackson.
Buck retired from the Army in July 2006 after 37 years of active duty and began his service as a
Department of the Army Civilian with First Army Division East at Fort Meade, Maryland, in December
2006. His awards and decorations include the Master Army Aviator Badge, the Legion of Merit, Bronze
Star, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal with V Device, Army Commendation Medal, Army
Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service
Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal, Army Service Ribbon,
Overseas Service Ribbon, Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign
Medal.
Buck enjoyed fishing, hunting, camping, scuba diving, cooking and especially snow skiing, serving
over 20 years with the National Ski Patrol. He had a fondness for both the ocean and the mountains
and was at home anywhere in the world. He is survived by his wife, Joyce; two daughters, his
son-in-law, PFC Thomas Stanish; one grandson, one sister, Janice and his battle buddy, BG Jan
Haigler. A celebration of life for Buck was held at the Fort Meade, MD Officer's Club on 21 July.
I wish to add the following information about LTC Lewis E. Buchanan (Ret.):
LTC Buchanan was TDY as a WO1 to United States Army Aviation School Element, Hunter Army
Airfield, Savannah, GA
23 July 1970 to 24 Aug 1970 to attend AH-1G (Cobra) Aviator Transition Course Class No. 71-2
Special Orders Number 164
Extract
8. TC 114
I was his classmate for Class No. 70-19 (Ft. Rucker) and we shared an apartment during Class No.
71-2 Cobra Hall. Lewis was good folks as the expression goes.
Dan Brunger
This information was last updated 01/14/2021
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Date posted on this site: 08/31/2024
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