Cpl. Dennis D. Buckley

A true American Hero, Cpl. Dennis D. Buckley, uncle of Youngstown resident Eleanor Stevenson, was captured by Chinese forces on February 5, 1951, at the age of 23, near Wonju, South Korea, when U.S. Army units were supporting the Republic of Korea against units of the Chinese People's Volunteer Forces (CPVF). The U. S. Army reported that the then, Pfc Buckley, was Missing in Action (MIA) on February 13, 1951. After CPVF units withdrew, his remains were not located. U.S. Graves Registration Services organized searches for those missing soldiers in the spring of 1953, but Pfc Buckley was still not found. A returning Prisoner of War provided information that Pfc Buckley was captured by the CPVF and subsequently died in their custody while in Suan POW camp. Based on this information, the U.S. Army declared him dead on June 30, 1951, and posthumously promoted him to the rank of Corporal effective May 1, 1953. In 1993, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea turned over remains purported to be that of American servicemen; through years of extensive research, DNA, and dental testing, Cpl. Buckley's remains were identified and are now being returned to his Youngstown area relatives. Born on February 24, 1927 in Pennsylvania, he was the son of John and Mary (Davidson) Buckley. He attended Strong Vincent High School in Erie, Pa before enlisting in the U.S. Navy from 1944 until 1946; he then enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1949. Survivors include his niece, Eleanor (Howard) Stevenson and family of Youngstown. Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by his siblings: Bill, Dan, Patrick, Howard, Ray Buckley, and Doris Mahonovich. The public may pay their respects to Cpl. Buckley, who will lay in repose, at the Lane Funeral Home, 5797 Mahoning Ave., Austintown, Ohio, 44515 on Wednesday from 4 to 7PM. A procession will form at the funeral home on Thursday, April 14, 2016 leaving at 11:30AM to take Cpl. Buckley to his final resting place at the Ohio Western Reserve National Cemetery in Rittman, Ohio where full military honors will be rendered at 1:00PM.