This Military Service Page was created/owned by
Richard Buell, CDR
to remember
Buell, Kenneth Richard, CDR.
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In June, 1972, USS America (CVA 66) rounded Cape Horn and joined the 7th Fleet in Southeast Asia, relieving USS Coral Sea. It suddenly had mechanical problems requiring it to return to Subic Bay, but commenced combat operations at Yankee Station on 9 August 72.
Onboard were various aviation units, including VA-35 - the 'Black Panthers' of attack squadron 35 with their A-6 Intruders. The Grumman A-6 was a 2-man, all weather, carrier-based attack jet. Equipped with a sophisticated navigation and attack system, it could hone in on small objects (bridges, barracks, fuel depots) in all types of weather.
On 17 Sept 72, CDR Verne Donnelly (pilot) and LCDR Kenneth Buell launched from America on a routine combat mission over the vicinity of Hai Duong, North Vietnam. As their aircraft was about 8 miles west of the city, it was assumed that they were shot down - and both declared Missing in Action.
Neither was acknowledged by the North Vietnamese as captured, and they did not return in the POW release of 1973. On 05 Feb 1991, the U.S. announced that remains returned by the Vietnamese had been positively identified as those of Verne G. Donnelly; after 25 years, he was finally home. As of 31 July 2006, Ken Buell still is missing.
Other Comments:
A note from Commander Rick Buell, SC, USN, son of LCDR Ken Buell:
My dad was born in Louisville, KY 24 Aug 1939 as the only child of Louis & Libby Buell of Xenia, OH & later on Yellow Springs Ohio.
He was a Son of the American Revolution & entered naval service enlisting on 12 May 1958 and training at RTC Great Lakes 28 July - 12 Sep 1958.
Ken and I were classmates at the Academy and we went through Naval Flight Officer training together and we both got our wings in Corpus Christi. We were both sent to Argentia, Newfoundland and assigned to VW-13 as Navigators. We deployed to Iceland for two years and our wives eventually joined us in Newfoundland. Ken and Mary were accomplished bridge players and we had a lot of fun together. After the squadron was decomissioned Ken went to Antarctica support and I went to the Vigilante program.
I ran into Ken in San Francisco when I was waiting to join the USS ENTERPRISE and Ken was waiting for enough tailwind to get a C-47 across the pond. We had a great two or three days of liberty together before we parted company.
I was dumbfounded when I heard about Ken's shootdown, as originally it was dated a month or so after cessation of hostilities. I am afraid that Ken suffered the same fate as another classmate and A-6 Bombardier (Kelly Patterson) and the North Vietnamese turned them over to the Russians for "debriefing" as they had the most knowledge of the air defense systems.
I still have Ken and Kelly's bracelets and will take them to the grave with me. I miss them both!
From a classmate, squadronmate and friend, Peter Carrothers usna1963@aol.com
