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| The
General Simon B. Buckner (AP
123) |
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The
General Simon B. Buckner (Photograph
Contributed by Bill Valashinas)
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From the Dictionary
of American Fighting Ships and
Transcribed by Yves
Hubert:
Simon Bolivar Buckner, born 18 July
1886, in Munfordville, Ky., attended
the U.S. Military Academy, West Point,
and was commissioned Second Lieutenant
of Infantry 14 February 1908. From
1908 to 1918 he served both in the
United States and the Philippines,
then assumed administrative demobilization
duties following World War I.
During the next two decades he served
as instructor and administrator at
various posts throughout the United
States, including the U.S. Military
Academy. In October 1939 he was assigned
to the 6th Division as Chief of Staff,
and appointed Brigadier General 1
September 1940.
During World War II he commanded American
troops in Alaska, with headquarters
at Fort Richardson, Anchorage. He
was promoted to Lieutenant General
4 May 1943 to assume command of the
10th Army August 1944. With overall
command of the landing forces on the
doorstep of Japan, General Simon B.
Buckner was killed in action on Okinawa
18 June 1945.
Admiral E. W. Eberle (AP-123)
(q. v.) was reacquired by the Navy
from the Army Transport Service as
General Simon B. Buckner 1
March 1950 and assigned to MSTS. With
a civilian crew on board, the transport
steamed across the Pacific throughout
the Korean conflict, transporting
troops and equipment to Japan and
other staging areas. General Simon
B.
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Photograph
Contributed by William Zarkas,
Retired MSC Boatswain President,
MSC Retiree Association
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Buckner
continued operations in the Pacific
until February 1955, departing San
Francisco on the 15th for New York.
Upon arrival two weeks later, she
was assigned to the New York-Bremerhaven
runs.
During the next 10 years General
Simon B. Buckner made over
130 Atlantic cruises from New York
to Bremerhaven, Southampton, and the
Mediterranean.
Departing New York 11 August 1965,
she returned to the West Coast, arriving
Long Beach on the 27th to assist in
the movement of troops and equipment
to Southeast Asia. After two cruises
to Vietnam, the veteran transport
resumed operation in the Atlantic,
arriving New York 3 December.
During the next 8 months, she steamed
across the Atlantic 10 times, making
stops at Bremerhaven and Southampton.
Returning to the West Coast in August
1966, General Simon B. Buckner
was once again pressed into service
to carry war material to Vietnam.
She departed San Francisco 8 September
and reached Da Nang, Vietnam, 20 days
later.
Following her return to San Francisco
16 October, she made another round-trip
voyage to Vietnam before returning
to the Atlantic and entering ready
reserve status.
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