134th Infantry Regiment Website
"All Hell Can't Stop Us"
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134th Infantry Regiment Website"All Hell Can't Stop Us" |
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Silver Star Medal Citation Private First Class Vallie Buckner, 38340680, Infantry, United States Army, for gallantry in action near Sevelen , Germany on 2 March 1945. While riding one of the lead tanks spearheading "Task Force Byrne" during the drive to establish contact with United Kingdom Forces, Private Buckner, a rifleman, was hit by an anti-tank projectile which almost severed his leg. In spite of severe pain and rapid loss of blood, he calmly took careful aim, killed the three-man gun crew and forced the officer in charge of the gun to surrender. His gallant action made it possible for the column to continue its swift advance and prevented casualties and loss of equipment. Entered military service from Texas. General Orders 21, Headquarters 35th Infantry Division, 25 March 1945 |
Vallie Buckner, Jr, ("K" Company, 320th Infantry Regiment) was a Silver Star recipient and was wounded twice in battle. First he was wounded near Mortain, France on 13 Aug 1944, and the second wound was near Sevelen, Germany on 2 March 1945 (just after they liberated Venlo, Holland.) He lost his left leg there. He was transferred to the 83rd Infantry Division temporarily from 15 Mar until 21 March, 1945. He arrived back on the U.S. continent on 8 April 1945 and ultimately being discharged on 22 May 1946.
Pfc. Buckner was awarded the European African Middle Eastern Service Medal with 3 Bronze Battle Stars for Germany, Northern France, Normandy, a Combat Infantry Badge, a Purple Heart Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster and a Silver Star Medal.
Vallie Buckner passed away on October 7, 1996 at 73 years of age. He is buried at Highland Park Cemetery in Borger, Texas.
Thanks to Chuck Buckner, Pfc. Vallie Buckner's nephew, for this information and the picture. He has created a Google Earth file, place marking all 35th Infantry Division Command Posts during WWII, including historical information about each location. CLICK HERE to access this Google Earth file.
