This Military Service Page was created/owned by
Richard Buell, CDR
to remember
Buell, Kenneth Richard, CDR.
If you knew or served with this Sailor and have additional information or photos to support this Page, please leave a message for the Page Administrator(s) HERE.
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.
The Missing Persons Branch at the Department of Naval Personnel released a site team survey for Dad's case number 1924. Eye-witness accounts and several site visits and surveys near Hai Duong (ENE of Hanoi) yielded enough data to give the green light for a team to excavate the site for possible remains or any evidence to corroborate the site with the A6A lost that fateful evening of 17 Sep 1972.
They are targeting Nov/Dec 2006 for the dig following the end of the rainy season. We all hope this is the year we get closure on his loss. More to follow as it becomes available.
Dad has 4 grandchildren now. My own son Evan is nearly 8 and my daughter Alexis is 10. My sister Susan has two children, Aidan and Trinity.
Rick
From his son, CDR (Sel) Richard C. Buell
09 Dec 2006 Addendum to Case 1924 progress-
It is very frustrating to report that the planned recovery of the suspected crash site was delayed until next year. After many questions to the Missing Persons branch relayed to JPAC, the news came that the number of recoveries planned for this year had been reduced by the government of Vietnam due to the pending APEC meeting hosted in Hanoi. The family was upset by the news having been so seemingly close to closure after 34 years. Perhaps 2007 will be kinder to us. Until then, we will not falter or give up. If anything our drive is renewed.
Happy holidays to all and thanks for remembering Dad.
