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.
Other Memories KENNETH RICHARD BUELL Milwaukee, Wisconsin Ken came to us from Kankakee, Illinois, but has since changed his hometown to Milwaukee. Ken attended Purdue University, but after one year he decided to try the Navy, and entered boot camp at Great Lakes, Illinois. Upon completion of boot camp and electronics school at Great Lakes, he entered the Academy and joined the Twelfth Company. Throughout his tour here at the Academy, Ken has shown himself well on the academic scales, being a consistent member of the elite Superintendent's List. He also finds time for tennis, football, and various other battalion sports. He likewise has assisted on the Brigade Activities Committee and is always willing to tutor those who don't find academics as lucid as he. An avid enthusiast of flying, Ken hopes to work aviation into his future career.
