Identified Medal or Decoration

T/5 Edward J. Buckley

Technician 5th Grade
Edward J. Buckley

Technician 5th Grade Edward J. Buckley

Edward John Buckley was born on August 18, 1924, in Atlantic City, New Jersey, as the only child of Johanna Mae Buckley (1901–1989) and Carlo Coppola. Father's surname was Coppolla but went by mother's maiden name of Buckley. Johanna Mae Buckley married Francis Harrison Boone in 1920 when she was 19 years old and they had one daughter. She married a second time with Carlo Coppola in 1924 when she was 23 years old and they had one son, Edward John (Coppola) Buckley. Though he was known to his Buckley cousins as Edward Coppola, his name appeared in the 1940 Census and US Army records as Edward Buckley. From before 1935, he lived in Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania with his Aunt Elsie and Uncle Ray Williamson. He graduated high school in Wilkes Barre in 1943. His mother married a therd time with Frank Rydzewski in New York City, New York, on May 18, 1944.

Edward J. Buckley enlisted in the US Army from Kingston, Luzern County, Pennsylvania on March 17, 1943. He was deployed to Europe on January 7, 1945 as a Technician Fifth Grade and proudly served his country as a member 83rd Reconnaissance Troop of the 83rd Infantry Division. Edward Buckley was KIA on April 12, 1945 near the Elbe River, in Barby, Germany, just three weeks before the German surrender. For his service he was awarded, among other decorations, the Combat Infantryman's Badge, the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Hart Medal and the Good Conduct Medal.

Edward John Buckley was first buried at the US Military Cemetery of Margraten, The Netherlands, before his remains came back to the US and were buried at the Long Island National Cemetery, Farmingdale, Suffolk County, New York, USA.