| Eight years ago, on May 31, 2001, three months and a week before the attack on America on September 11, 2001, I gave the following remarks on the floor of the NH House. The Keene Sentinel printed them on June 1, 2001. The following year, a military head stone was given to the family to honor Arthur, it is now in the Buckley family plot in Swanzey.
I posted this on Veterans Day 2008, but since I was thinking of Arthur today I thought I would post it again.
From the Permanent Journal of the New Hampshire House of Representatives, May 31, 2001
unanimous CONSENT
Rep. Burling moved that the remarks made by Reps. Buckley, Rosen and Avery be printed in the Permanent Journal.
Rep. Buckley: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Last week we once again heard moving stories about the men and women who so bravely served our country. Over the years, I have come to look forward to and deeply appreciate the fine tradition of this House to pause every so often from the debates of the day to honor those among us, and all those who wore our nation's uniform, those who are no longer with us and those who never returned.
I rise today to honor the memory of one particular soldier who never returned to his native Granite State. As you enter the State House through the Hall of Flags, in a place, I believe of high honor, we have a display that lists the names of those still listed as missing in action in the Korean conflict and Vietnam war. The first name listed is US Army Corporal Arthur Delbert Buckley of Cheshire County. My dad's cousin was not yet twenty years old when he was declared missing in action on December 9, 1950, which was two days after my dad's tenth birthday. Over the years, it has been with great reverence, pride and emotion that my dad has shared with his children and grandchildren the story of his brave young cousin.
Young Arthur Buckley was eager to fight for America and it must have been frustrating for him as a young adolescent during World War II. Following the war, at age 15, he joined the US Navy but was, of course, promptly sent home when they discovered his true age. After his 17th birthday, he joined the US Army. While in Keene between his basic training and heading out for Korea, Arthur made headlines in the Keene Sentinel by saving the life of a man by leaping into a burning dump fire and pulling the man out while other bystanders stood frozen with utter fear.
Those two examples of his willingness to fight and his bravery give added credence to the last story my family ever heard regarding Arthur. Following the declaration of Arthur's MIA status, his father was visited by a man who served with Arthur in Korea. He was told of Arthur's last act of bravery. While wounded and unable to walk, Arthur insisted that he be allowed to stay behind - alone - to fight the advancing Communist troops allowing for the rest of the men to escape to safety. The young man told my dad's uncle that without young Arthur's brave sacrifice it was unlikely that any of them would have survived.
So I rise today, this week of Memorial Day, to mark the 50th Memorial Day that has been celebrated since US Army Corporal Arthur Delbert Buckley, that brave teenager from Keene, New Hampshire, was lost. I also rise today to honor his memory, the memory of the other 19 men still listed as missing in action from Korea and all those who have ever served our country. Thank you.
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