"Our condolences for the loss of this great American Hero."
In loving memory of
Edmund Buchser, Jr.
April 4, 1922 - January 10, 2010
Buchser, Edmund, Jr.; 87, retired Lt. Colonel, United States Marine Corps, of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, passed away, January 10, 2010.
Lt. Colonel Buchser is survived by his wife of 31 years, Patricia Lynn (Guerin) Buchser, originally from Webster, MA; a daughter, Barbara Belle Barber and her husband, R. Todd Barber and their two children, Anna and Jake, of Holliston, MA; a son, Edmund Buchser III and his wife, Carole Buchser, and their three children, Kathryn, Andrew and Ryan, of Chatham, NJ; a brother, William J. Buchser, and his wife, Polly Buchser, of Evansville, IN.
Born in Owensboro, Kentucky on April 4, 1922, the son of Edmund, Sr., and Lavon Askins Dowell Buchser, the family moved to Tel City, IN, shortly after his birth. He graduated from Tell City High School in 1940 after being Co-Captain in football and basketball his senior year.
He entered Western Kentucky University in the fall of 1940 and signed up for U.S. Navy Flight School in January 1942, where he was sent to Navy Pre-Flight School at University of Georgia at Athens. After Primary Flight School at Naval Air Station St. Louis, Missouri, he performed Flight Training and Final Squadron Flight Training at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida, graduating in July 1943. He was “checked-out” in F4U “Corsair” aircraft in MCAS El Toro, CA.
In January 1944, he was assigned to squadron VMF-115, on Emirau, Northern Solomons, commanded by Major Joe Foss. Lt. Colonel Buchser flew 101 combat missions in the South Pacific and earned two Distinguished Flying Crosses.
In the years after World War II, he was an instructor in Advanced Fighter Training, Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Florida, was a member of the U.S. Navy Flight Exhibition Team (later known as the “Blue Angels”) and spent 3 years as an air traffic controller.
After being recalled to active duty in 1951, Lt. Colonel Buchser spent a year aboard aircraft carriers USS F.D. Roosevelt & USS Tarawa flying F2H-2 Banshees. In 1952-53, he was transferred to airfield K-3, Po’Hang Dong, Korea, MAG 33, VMF-115, flying F9F Pantherjets on 87 missions, including Strike Leader to Pyongyang (North Korean capital), earning him his third Distinguished Flying Cross. As Provost Marshall, he received a Bronze Star with a Combat V for relieving an Air Force Radio outpost under attack by guerrillas.
From 1953 to 1956, he was Commanding Officer of several squadrons and chief test pilot for 3rd Marine Air Wing for fighter and attack aircraft. On release from active duty in 1956, he joined Douglas Aircraft in Production Test for the A4D-1 “Skyhwak” until joining National Air Lines later that year as a co-pilot in various aircraft. He was promoted to Captain in 1967, in B-727s, and qualified Captain on DC-10s in 1975. Pan American World Airways merged National Airlines in 1978, and he continued flying DC-10s and the Miami Dolphins charter 727s until retiring from PanAm and the U.S. Marine Corps as Lieutenant Colonel on April 4, 1982.
After retirement, he engaged in flying, fishing and hunting. He hunted and fished in 19 states and 18 countries, including 9 African Safaris, 21 trips to New Zealand, and “The Glorious Twelfth” in Scotland for grouse and red stag deer, and he developed a successful hunting camp in Georgia for wild turkey and white tail deer.
Life Member of Veterans of Foreign War, American Legion, USMC Aviation Association, Military Officers Association of America, National Rifle Association, Quiet Birdmen, Safari Club International, African Safari Club of Florida and other outdoors-related organizations.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to either The Conservation Fund of the African Safari Club, P.O. Box 452043, Sunrise, FL. 33345-2043; or the US Marines Toys for Tots Foundation, www.toysfortots.org/donate/tribute-donation.asp , or mail your tribute donation in Lt. Colonel Edmund Buchser Jr.’s name to Marine Toys for Tots Foundation, Gift Processing Administrator, 18251 Quantico Gateway Drive, Triangle, VA. 22172.http://videos.lifetributes.com/112685
Tributes
"Edro, What a pleasure and honor it was to know you. You lead a spectacular life and have left so many incredible memories for all the lives you touched in so many ways. You had a way of making people feel special and that was especially touching to me. You will be remembered dearly."
"To the Buchser Family, What a life he lead!!!!!! What wonderful memories you have to hold on to....We are truly sorry for your loss, and will be with you in Arlington to help you celebrate your Fathre's life. Love ' The Matthews Family"
"Patty: Peggy and I just heard about Ed. Very sorry for your loss. Bill & Peggy (NAL)"
"Always on our mind."
"Patty, I enjoyed that so much. What a wonderful man. You were lucky to have had so many beautiful years together. Looking forward to hearing everything soon.......we will plan our outing. Love you Brooke"
"Edro, Wow...I can't believe that you are gone. You were always larger than life. You represented strength, courage and fun. A real man's man. I remember being at your house in Florida for months at a time with Barbara. It really was some of the best times of my life. You and PC always made me feel like your second daughter. And Washinton DC....oh we had such a blast! I remember laughing and laughing all day long while sightseeing. But my most exciting memory is when you would announce to all of the other passengers on the plane, "I have a very important announcement to make. I would like to say hello to my daughter Barbara and her best friend, Alison. Welcome aboard!" Those were the days. What a stud you were!! Thank you for being such a big part of my life. I will miss you. Love always, Alison"
"Patty, Sorry I never got to meet Ed, but somehow I felt as though I knew him. Keeping you in my thoughts and prayers always, Carol"
"Patti, I am really sorry to hear about Ed. I still remember him always coming down to play basketball, and walking the dogs down the street. He was a great man, and I have some great memories of him. Brian Harff"
"Dear Patty & Family-We are so sorry for the loss of dear sweet "Edro" and know that he has his angel wings on flying home to be with all those who have gone before him. He will be truly missed by us and all of us on the block. We are here for you if you need anything at all."
"Dear Paw Paw - We love you and miss you. You will always be in our hearts and our memories. We loved Thanksgiving the best of all the holidays, because we got to spend it with you, PC, and the Barbers in Massachusetts. We loved your great stories about flying and hunting and fishing. We loved the great stories of Bucky, the best dog ever, and Benson, the dog who climbed trees. Drew and Ryan will always remember visiting you in Fort Lauderdale, and especially will remember swimming in your pool and catching salamanders. We are so proud to be your daughter in law and grandchildren. Love always Carole, Katie, Drew and Ryan."
"Hey Edro, we're going to miss your stories and singing at the Sun tailgates. Hope you had as much fun as we did. Toz and Leslie"
"Please accept my most sincere sympathies. I thank God for American heros like Edmund Buchser Jr."
"Dear Patty and Ed's Family and Friends, It is with sadness that we heard from Patty that Ed had died. It closes a chapter in my life, a chapter of friendship, meeting you Patty, your family and many friends that Ed brought to NZ and the ones that we met when we visited you. The memories will survive and the stories told again around our fishing camps will survive. The first time I met Ed was approx 1972, when we were at a cattle auction at Omarama. This guy climbed up on the cattle rails with me, sat and watched the sale and we started the first of thousands of conversations between us. I suggested where he should go to catch a fish, but I said whatever happens he should stop at the Omarama Hotel and have a beer with us all at the end of the day. He did that and it started a wonderful story of Ed coming to NZ, I think about 24 times, staying at our home with our family and meeting 100's of New Zealanders. Many of us have travelled to Florida and stayed with Ed and Patty and met many of their friends. Ed was a modest man, even more appreciated after reading the obituary notices that have been printed in the last few days. Ed's greatest gift was his love of fellow people, he really enjoyed meeting new people and getting to know them. He charmed them with his stories and respect. He was prepared to travel halfway around the world just to be with people he enjoyed and to fish and hunt. I counted Ed as one of my greatest friends, I respected him, respected his prowess as one of the world's great pilots, enjoyed his company, enjoyed his stories. I enjoyed introducing him to our friends and meeting his. I will miss him. Elinor Roosevelt said 'Friends are a present that you give to yourself.' Ed and I gave that present to each other. Regards Bill and Judy Simpson."
"When Eddie flew the Corsair down Main Street in Tell City, I was not born. But, when he flew low again in Tell City in the 1950's, my Mom (Goldie Simpson), had all 4 of us boys out in the side yard waiting. I believe Eddie's Mom lived on 12th Street. We lived on 9th Street. Louie Kraus told me he remembered when Eddie flew the Corsair down Main Street and then circled the high school. Louie was in high school at the time. Pretty neat guy that Eddie Buchser. Kenny Simpson, Tell City, Indiana."
"To PC, Barbara and Ed Hoist one for Edro, or maybe two. Reading his bio made me proud to have even met him. You will all keep him in your hearts. Jerry"
"Dear Edro, I'll always remember the fond memories of the adventures we shared over the past 40 + years. You were a rare and special friend who was the consummate warrior who survived the many battles you fought with ferocity and dignity, but alas you have gone west and all that knew you are left with your enduring spirit and the legacy of love and friendship toward us all. Edro, as they lay you to rest in the garden of heros in Arlington my wish is that on your final journey you will have forever clear skies and a strong tail wind toward your final destination. 'Semper fi' Edro ~ with great sorrow and much love, Chip & Francine Rizzotto 'Paradise Valley', Montana"
"We flew Banshees together in VMF-224 and from the USS FDR in the Mediterranean then switched to the great Grumman Panther in VMF-115 (Ed) and VMF-311 (me) for Korea. I remember Edro as a super-pro aviator and a gung-ho officer who was a whole lot of fun to be around when the airplanes were tied down for the day. I'm thankful for time spent with Edro. Semper Fi, old friend."
"To Bill (Edmunds brother)- I read your brother Edmund's touching obituary that you wrote in the Evansville IN Courier & Press and was awestruck of what kind of man he was. I then had my teenage sons read it and told them this man was and is a true hero. I am a naval aviation history buff, an avid Wisconsin ruffed grouse hunter, and know very well what the "The Glorious Twelfth" (August 12) is in Scotland-it just happens to be my birthday also, so I enjoyed a little smile from that in the funeral home web site obituary. Although you don't know me, I am sorry for the loss of your brother Edmund and wish him Godspeed and for peace in your heart too. May God bless you and your family; Dan Voight Newburgh, IN"
"Edro, Going to miss you. From the flying and war stories, and the Mooney and Woody stories, to the singing of the Marine Corps songs, to the way you loved my wife, and especially, my kids. Thank you for letting me be a part of your life, and your family. God bless and "atta way, Marine!" your son-in-law, Todd"