On August 6, 1945 Hiroshima was leveled by the atomic bomb and on August 8th a second bomb erased Nagasaki. The war was over. Even though ten of thousands of innocent Japanese civilians were killed by the blasts, it can be argued in the long run that had the planned invasion of Kyushu, the Japanese second largest home island, occurred that hundreds of thousands of civilians and armed forces on both sides would have been lost. The invasion was set for November 1, 1945.
The 22nd Marine, Joe Buckley’s regiment, was dispatched to Tsingtao, China, as a buffer between warring Chinese factions. Joe became eligible for rotation and returned to Tiffin in February, 1946. Joe, trained in communications, served as part of a forward observation team in Guam and Okinawa. His only injury was on Okinawa when a tower in which he was in came under heavy fire. They had to descend quickly to safety and the skin was warn off the insides of both arms as he shinnied down the tower in haste.
In early June, 1944, “Dad” Kernan proudly announced that over 500 former Jr. Home men and women were serving in the U. S. Armed Forces.
Joe and Kenny Durham went together to boot camp at San Diego. There they met Andrew Crabtree and Jack Stephens. At the formal dress parade at graduation from boot came, it was “verboten” for Joe to speak to a marine officer reviewing the troops. That marine officer was Ted “Hog” Williams, a Jr. Home graduate of 1938. He later became a captain. Joe also met two navy “boot” classmates, twin brothers Hugh and Hubert Ferguson who were on week-end leave.
On Guadacanal, he heard, “Hi, Joe, this is Pat Eason, How have you been all of these years?” Pat had been his closest boyhood pal until he left the Jr. Home in 1939. Now with the 22nd Marines, Joe met Homekid, Balis “Moe” Campbell. Balis, Pat, and Joe now got together whenever they could. One afternoon while traveling in a recon truck to an Army Red Cross center, they met Johnny Perry. Now there were four Homekids together in the recon. Still under way, Johnny shouted, “Stop the damn recon! That hitch-hiker is Harold “Mustard” Oren. Both Perry and Oren had been noted Jr. Home athletes. .
A sixth Homekid was added when Glenn Edwards, Joe’s football teammate was added to the circle. Glenn was wounded on Okinawa and the group lost contact with him.
Balis introduced Clyde Mitchell to the group. He was a Jr. Home Champion marble player. Clyde, a machine gunner with the 22nd was severely wounded on Guam and rotated home. Joe also met Ed “Sweetpea” Simms, a boyhood friend who, like Clyde, was a machine gunner who was wounded on Guam and rotated home. The “six in the Sixth Infantry Division” good times came to an abrupt end when they landed on Okinawa, April l, 1945. It was now time for the final great land battle of World War II and it lasted for 90 days. John Perry received the coveted Navy Cross about one month into the campaign. His Navy Cross citation reads: “For extraordinary heroism while serving as a leader of a Rifle Platoon of Company H, Third Battalion , 29th Marines, 6th Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces in the Naha-Shuri sector of Okinawa on May 18, 1945….Corp. Perry, on his own initiative, made his way alone to the top of a vital ridge through an avalanche of hand grenades, returned to his platoon for a machine gun squad and fea rlessly directed the fire from his exposed position, neutralizing the enemy fire.”
John’s unit, H Company, bore the brunt of the capture of the last Japanese command post on Okinawa. His death came at the very end of the hostilities. Pat, Balis, and Joe later visited the division cemetery and wept while standing quietly by his graveside.
Glenn Edwards, another one of the six, was wounded. Joe’s close Tiffin friend, Bill Long, and three of his former communication school classmates were also wounded. The above picture shows four of the six during happier times. From left to right are Corporal John Perry, Pvt Harold Oren, Pfc Balis Campbell and Corp. Joseph Buckley.
During a rest period on Okinawa, John visited his friends and showed them an article from Life magazine that he had received from his wife. The article detailed the exploits of Roger Young, who was awarded the Congressional Metal of Honor. John told the other two, “I remember his dad, Nick Young. He was my boss at the Jr. Home garage. Son Roger attend the Home school for a while.
Joe, on his brief stay at Tsingtao, China, met more Jr. Home classmates. They included Morris McCoy and Hubert Ferguson. The three enjoyed being tourists in this European-style Chinese city.
Joanna Culichia, a Calvert cheerleader and Joe’s sweetheart corresponded faithfully throughout the war. They were married June 29, 1946. Joe, on his return to Tiffin, started at Gray Printing Company in Fostoria.
He entered Heidelberg in Sept. 1946, and graduated in June 1949. He majored in political science. During this time he continued to work at Gray, taking the 5 PM bus to Fostoria and returning to Tiffin at midnight on the B and O. Railroad.
In Sept., 1949, he attended Case Western Law School and worked on the Plain Dealer after hours. After one year he came back to Tiffin where he worked for a New York Company introducing Christmas Club Saving Plans to Ohio Banks. From 1961 to 1969 Joe operated Frisch’s Big Boy. He then worked with several different restaurant companies followed as sales agents to banks and traveled for Rand McNally. He retired in 1985. He can now be found at his home on Ash Street, or working on the War Memorial at the Jr. Home. Joe and Joanna have five children: Michael, in Melmore, Joseph in Republic, Andrea in Strongsville, Anthony in Fremont, and Andrew in Crown Point, Indiana. They have nine grandchildren
Mary and I have learned from Joe and others that the Jr. Home was a loving, caring place and that it was a real home for over 4800 children. It was a place where patriotism, respect and regard for others, and responsibility for ones own life were the guiding principles.
Thank you, Joe and Joanna, for your hospitality, good humor, and friendly nature. Thanks, Joe, for your good notes about your World War II experiences.
– Percy