Col. Michael Buckley Jr.

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Santa Clara University

Michael Buckley Obituary

Col. Michael Buckley Jr died on August 17, 2006 at the Mercy Care Center in Oakland at the age of 104. At the time of death he was the oldest living graduate of West Point. He was also the first American prisoner of war in World War II.

He was born in Bisbee, Arizona Territory, on May 17, 1902, the son of Michael and Barbara Lally Buckley. The family lived in Coalinga where he graduated from Coalinga High School in 1919. He then entered the United States Military Academy where he lettered in baseball, boxing, and soccer. Upon graduation in 1923 he was commissioned in the Field Artillery of the United States Army.

In the fall of 1941 the then Major Buckley was sent to Egypt as an observer with the British forces fighting the combined German and Italian army under General Erwin Rommell. He was with the 5th South African Brigade advancing toward Tobruk when Rommel's panzer forces overran their position on Nov. 23. Buckley was captured along with the entire Brigade staff. As an unarmed noncombatant, he should have been released. But after Pearl Harbor he was interned in Italy until freed by a prisoner exchange in May 1942. He spent most of the war on the army planning staff of General Lesley McNair in Washington, D.C. and then served in the occupation of Japan.

In 1953 Col. Buckley became Professor of Military Science and Tactics for the ROTC program at Santa Clara University. Following his retirement in 1954 he taught mathematics at Santa Clara until 1968. For over thirty years, he and his wife, the former Eleanor Fletcher, lived in Santa Cruz where they belonged to the Pasatiempo Golf Club and were members of Holy Cross parish. They were married for seventy-three years until her death in 1999. He was also predeceased by four of their six children: Barbara Brown, Patricia Pope, Fletcher, and George Edward. His survivors include two sons, Fr. Michael Buckley, S.J. of Santa Clara University, and Fr. Thomas Buckley, S.J. of the Jesuit School of Theology at Berkeley, a sister, Sr. Marie Barbara, S.N.D. of Belmont, a son-in-law John N. Pope of San Jose, a daughter-in-law, Elizabeth Buckley of New Jersey, twelve grandchildren and fifteen great grandchildren.

A Mass of the Resurrection will be said at Santa Clara Mission Church at 10a.m. on Friday, August 25, followed by burial at Santa Clara Mission Cemetery. Instead of flowers, contributions may be made to student scholarships for the Dept. of Mathematics and Computer Science at Santa Clara University or to Mercy Residence and Care Center in Oakland.

Lima Family Santa Clara Mortuary assisting the family.

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Published by Santa Cruz Sentinel on Aug. 23, 2006.

Memories and Condolences
for Michael Buckley

6 Entries

Monica Esposito

August 26, 2006

I met Col. Buckley when I was 14 years old. Holy Cross High School had just closed and I had just finished my 8th grade year there. Marello opened the Fall of 1970. My first class of the day was Algebra I with Col. Buckley. 5 days a week for 1 year he lined us up in rows, we were in alphabetical order. He would call the boys by their last names only but for us "ladies" as he called us it was, "Miss" then our last names. That math class I learned something evertime I walked through those doors. What I later found out was Col. Buckley gave of his time and talent and recieved no treasure for his teaching all those math classes. He was a hero in many ways, an example of what stewardship is all about. In later years I would see him at Mass at Holy Cross. One day I approached him and asked if he remembered me from Marello. "Yes, Miss Esposito I do." I often wondered what he remembered or why, I do know, that day I walked a little taller. I am very grateful to have known him.

My prayers and deepest sympathy.

Sincerely,

Monica Esposito

Donna Escamilla

August 23, 2006

My family wishes to express its deepest condolences to yours during this difficult time. I recognize there are no words I can offer to ease your pain of missing this very special man. I know only that some days are better than others. I worked with John (Pope) many years and he shared with me many tremendously enjoyable stories of the Col. and I can say most assuredly that the Col. was as proud and as in love with his family as you are with him. Without doubt the Gates flew open as he found his place in Heaven. My prayers are with you all.

God Bless You, Donna Escamilla and Family

John Swensson

August 23, 2006

A great American who will be remembered by his friends for many years to come. His finest hour, other than recruiting for the Army football team even in his nineties, was publicly taking on the West Point Superintendent over the quality of the football team when he was 101!!!

Jerome Lewis

August 22, 2006

My first face-to-face encounter with COL Mike Buckley was when I had my appointment to West Point. I was one of his ROTC cadets at Santa Clara University, and I was called into his office for an interview to receive his endorsement to a trip back to his Alma Mater, West Point. He was the Professor of Military Science and Tactics (or Commanding Officer) and I was a lowly, struggling freshman engineering student who was taught Army Tactics mainly by the sergeants. He apparently recommended me, and 4 years later I became a Regular Army Artillery Officer; his branch was the Field Artillery and so was the program at SCU. That was 1954, and it was the last year COL Buckley served in the Army. He had the qualifications and quickly became a Professor of Mathematics at SCU.

About 40 years later, I attended a Founders Day dinner in San Jose and the Colonel was the Oldest Grad Speaker, which is a tradition at the annual formal dinner of the local alumni. He was brought to dinner by his daughter Pat (since deceased) and I reminded him that I was in his ROTC unit. We met again in 1999, when he was again the Oldest Grad Speaker. Son Tom escorted the Colonel and his wife Eleanor to the event. It wasn't until 2002 and his 100th Birthday that we began the celebrations on behalf of WPSSV. We always tried to recruit him for FD Speaker, but the last successful time was in 2003 when both sons Tom and Mike escorted him to the lectern. The Superintendent, LTG Wm Lennox was there, and the Colonel scolded him about the disgraceful football team, which had no wins in the previous season. I am sure LTG Lennox heard from others, but a coaching change was made before the next season.

While at his Saratoga Retirement home, we had very friendly visits, and he always extended an invitation to stay for dinner of lunch. In 2003, we tried to schedule a lunch around his birthday and he was back at West Point for his "Class Reunion," his 80th but there were no classmates left to attend! He laid the wreath at the foot of the statue of Sylvanus Thayer, the father of West Point. It was his 2nd time at doing that honor as the Oldest Graduate Present. He was the Oldest Grad also at my 40th reunion in 1998, and I tried to get near him to say Hello. He was surrounded with dignitaries; so I had to wait until I returned to Silicon Valley.

I missed his 100th birthday, as I attended a funeral for a 76 year old WW2 veteran. I understand it was a "blast" as he entertained answering questions from the group. It was informal deli sandwiches and soft drinks in a recreation room at his Saratoga Retirement home. I saw pictures and there were about a dozen in attendance. For the 101st and 102nd, we scheduled a lunch with the Colonel, as his guests, in the dining room. The group was around 8 and we gathered in his room for some beverage, which included whisky, beer or soft drink. Father Mike was usually there, quite often visiting from Boston College; now he resides at SCU. We normally had a spread in ages, to include our president (Joe, Dick, & Landon in that order) and Ed & Dan who knew the Colonel and his family in Yokohama, Japan. They went to school with the Buckley teenagers (Mike, Pat, & Fletch). Fletcher, smart like his dad entered West Point with the class of 1954, and Ed & Dan with the class of 1955.

He liked to talk about baseball, and his sports, and people like Marty Maher and Red Reeder. When asked he talked about his POW situation, and his Army assignments.

When he moved to Oakland, the group of visitors got smaller for his 103rd, but it was the only time I was able to celebrate his actual birthday with him. The first time Ed and I rode together and arrived early. We looked for him in the Rose Room where the lunch was to take place, and found him in the Physical Training room. He was working out quite hard moving his arms like the boxer he once was, and being commanded by an ex-paratrooper therapist. In the tone of a drill sergeant, he told the Colonel to do some more repetitions. The Colonel looked at us as we briefly said hello, and then said, "It is my birthday today, and that is all I am going to do!"

For the Big 104, which is what son Tom called it, on May 17, 2006, I helped with arrangements but could not attend. We had four WP graduates (two from '55 and two from '65 -- the class that founded our West Point Society of Silicon Valley), one of the wives, Jim Sullivan -- a former ROTC cadet at SCU under Col. B, a WW2 veteran who had attended his 100th celebration, and the two Mike Buckleys. A very colorful picture appeared in the recent West Point alumni magazine, the Assembly. He only held the position of Oldest Grad for a period of 5 months.

I did see him six days after The Big 104, and presented him with a picture of the event. At his final birthday, he had been presented an Army baseball cap for the occasion, plus a large tapestry of the West Point Color Guard by John Swensson. Bill Schwarz '59 from Oakland joined me in the lunch, and Father Mike was also there to make sure the high balls were offered beforehand.

While Ed, Dan and I kept the birthday visits going since his 100th, I've got to hand it to John Swensson for the encouragement. I was talking to him about the Colonel regarding Founders Day dinner and mentioned that he was commander of my ROTC unit. “But have you gone out to see him? He could use the company”, said John. And so I did. John also suggested in 2005 when LTG Lennox returned for a visit that he bring a football. At the suggestion of Mary, a baseball was presented -- that was his sport she said. It had been signed by the members of the 2004 Patriot League champion Army team. Also, he was presented a certificate as a Distinguished Citizen, listing many of his accomplishments. The certificate read:

COL MICHAEL BUCKLEY '23

LIFETIME COMMITMENT TO WEST POINT, EDUCATION & FAMILY

"ARMY" BASEBALL PLAYER & BOXER

(Featured in "West Point's Field of Dreams", with an RBI single vs. NY GIANTS)

FIRST POW CAPTURED IN WWII

(Featured in book "Behind Both Lines" about his early release,

helped with the power of prayer)

FIELD ARTILLERY OFFICER FOR 31 YEARS

PROFESSOR AT SANTA CLARA UNIVERSITY FOR 14 YEARS

CLASS OF '23 SCRIBE

(Class Editor for Assembly magazine)

RECRUITED WEST POINT CADETS

(Even while in his 90s)

OLDEST LIVING GRAD AT WEST POINT ALUMNI CEREMONIES (1998 & 2003)

OLDEST GRAD SPEAKER AT WEST POINT FOUNDERS DAY 3 TIMES

(most recently in 2002, at age 101)

HOST TO LOCAL WEST POINT GRADUATES

(at his Saratoga Retirement Community home where he insists on

providing cocktails and buying lunch)

DEVOTED TO FAMILY OF 6 CHILDREN & THEIR OFFSPRING

(there are 12 grandchildren and 15 great grandchildren)

MARRIAGE TO ELEANOR OVER 73 YEARS

(deeply in love and deeply missed by COL Mike, and by his Jesuit sons Mike & Tom)

JEROME LEWIS, West Point Class of 1958

Stephen Carlson

August 22, 2006

Devotion to God. Steadfast faith. Love of family. Commitment to excellence. Belief in virtue. Performance of duty. Iron will. Ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est. A very good life, very well lived.

Robert Hausafus

August 22, 2006

Please accept our deepest sympathies. Mary Pope-Handy is a friend that shared many amazing and fascinating stories about her grandfather with us. I'm glad you all have such rich memories and stories to pass on. Bob and Shirley Hausafus

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