december december professional american football player went united_states_navy officer served navy special warfare units world war serving twice awarded second highest decoration world war completed phd columbia_university went command seal team early stages vietnam war authored report predicted use waterways rivers routes supplies personnel initially dismissed report later source increase use navy seals direct action missions retired captain worked consultant company private sector died series strokes known father naval special warfare california bears early life born raised columbus ohio attended went attend cincinnati earned fame football player tight end college played left founded coach years united_states entered world war naval career world war volunteered military service naval reserve december day japanese attack pearl harbor reported norfolk virginia training commission ensign soon joined raiders elite force combat swimmers scouted beaches amphibious landings ensign served invasion north_africa november july commanded scout boat landings sicily operation awarded participated landings italy operation awarded unit transferred england support imminent invasion normandy january officer swam ashore night collect sand samples target beach later referred mission planners needed know sand support heavy vehicles occasion brought yards beach swam rest way hid water watch time patrols going ashore collect sand samples useful intelligence day june commanded scout boat assigned lead wave tank carrying landing craft landing craft accompanied tanks sea saw sea conditions dangerous launching tanks unfortunately radio report ignored tanks awarded second leading wave tank carrying landing craft beach scout boat occasion combat heavy surf enemy fire remained station guide boat day directing assault waves giving supporting fire german positions rescued soldiers landing craft destroyed drowning laid bow boat pulled drowning men water strength arms final assignment world war took china scouted chinese coast later moved inland help train equip chinese fight japanese moved partisan group gathering intelligence japanese way large size inability speak chinese partisans disguised deaf mute japanese learned american spy labeled big mission complete calcutta india closest friends scouts athletic backgrounds pro tackle played quarterback notre dame football team nfl football player killed action post world war married fiancée left active duty years complete education columbia_university columbia worked navy instructor coached football team returned active duty completing serving bases united_states korea vietnam june assigned commanding officer beach unit naval amphibious base virginia served capacity late turned boats boats flew korean flag manned american sailors command lieutenant commander assigned korea operating base group help cia conducted harassment psychological operations north_korea years service facing mandatory retirement staff reductions navy creation seal teams president selected command consisted seal team underwater demolition teams ironically qualified vietnam early american forces actively engaged captain behest admiral took mission determine counter staff traveled delta interviewing dozens vietnamese military personnel american advisors border witnessed openly moving supplies inside despite neutrality report described communist effort criticized south vietnamese response inefficient inadequate suggested halting require coastal blockade augmented extensive patrolling internal rivers frontier addition recommended navy establish viable means controlling rivers implementing patrols navy initially disregarded conclusion placing emphasis north vietnamese navy launched operation market time refused consider implications report ironically effectiveness market time caused north vietnamese predicted greater force use rivers frontier logistics region able conclude build necessary launch attacks early report impetus deploy seal teams direct action missions command seal team assigned pentagon served retirement post military life legacy retirement remained area served representative louisiana boat building company called father naval special warfare members naval special warfare community military authors written memoirs published wheelchair bound stroke attended ceremony naval special warfare center california named october inducted 34th member photograph hangs city hall died hospital virginia suffering strokes buried arlington national cemetery citation citation president united_states_of_america takes pleasure presenting lieutenant junior grade ensign reserve extraordinary heroism distinguished service line profession scout boat officer action enemy forces amphibious assault july achieving high degree success capable training scout boat crews entire attack force lieutenant junior grade participated actual invasion outstanding courage illumination hostile weapons proceeded hazardous waters located designated beach directed assault boat wave utterly shore battery machine gun fire repeatedly struck vessel lieutenant junior grade guiding subsequent waves proper beach conduct action reflects great credit keeping highest traditions second citation citation president united_states_of_america takes pleasure presenting lieu second award navy cross lieutenant junior grade reserve extraordinary heroism distinguished service line profession officer charge scout boat amphibious assault france june embarked craft approach strongly defended cost lieutenant junior grade successfully accomplished highly important mission locating designated beaches despite rough surf continuous enemy fire led wave tanks going close beach taking station guide firing boat rockets tanks target objectives support landings moved closer direct guns suspected hostile machine gun nests houses beach subsequently face heavy enemy opposition rescued wounded personnel burning landing craft regulated flow traffic morning afternoon day conduct action reflects great credit keeping highest traditions military awards decorations medal navy achievement medal presidential unit citation navy unit navy good conduct medal china service medal american defense medal american campaign medal pacific campaign medal world war victory medal navy occupation service medal national defense service medal medal vietnam campaign medal palm korean medal vietnam campaign medal quote
Phil H. Bucklew