Daniel Anton “Dan” Buechner IV was a special and unique man, and I, along with many of the Class of ’69, was blessed to know “Buck” while at West Point and afterwards. I roomed with him in D-2, was his best man when he married Sharon following graduation, and attended those initial Fort Benning Infantry courses with him. After that time, our paths diverged, and I did not see him again, sad to say. I heard from him and Sharon over the years, but we were never in the same Army location at the same time. As we all know, that is not unusual, and it speaks to the sacrifices we all made during our service that are continuing to be made by those serving today.
As a cadet, Dan had displayed a tough, no nonsense demeanor and look that intimidated many a plebe and underclassman, but he had a great and kind heart and a wonderful sense of humor. He taught Sunday School and made many lasting friendships. I enjoyed rooming with him, for he made the West Point experience more bearable for me and for lots of others with his keen wit and honest outlook on all things at the Academy.
Dan chose Infantry at branch selection, and, owing to his planned marriage as soon as possible after graduation, selected Germany as the first assignment for him and his bride, Sharon.
Dan spent the two months of graduation leave in Tennessee at his home in Memphis, where he and Sharon celebrated their recent marriage with a great weekend party attended by many family and friends. What a blast! The pink champagne was flowing freely as we enjoyed water skiing on the Mississippi River, along with great food and much, much fun!
Later in the summer, we all gathered at Fort Benning, GA, where he and Sharon set up house and he attended Airborne, Ranger, and the Infantry Officer Basic Course. What a time that was for all of us! We can all remember that wonderful summer and fall, being on our own as newly commissioned officers, the excitement of first assignments, and the prospect of Vietnam hanging over us. Books could be written!
After Benning, Dan and Sharon headed to Schweinfurt, Germany, for duty with the 3rd Infantry Division and the 2nd Battalion, 30th Infantry. After a short stint in Germany, Dan received his orders for Vietnam and deposited Sharon with his parents in Memphis as he reported to the 101st Airborne Division. Following duty in Vietnam, Dan attended the Infantry Officer Advanced Course at Fort Benning. Dan and Sharon were then assigned to the 4th Infantry Division at Fort Carson, CO, where Dan served as a company commander in the 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry. While in Colorado, Dan’s daughter, Tiffany, was born in 1974.
Recruiting duty was next in line for Dan, and he migrated to McAllister, OK in 1976 and became the commander of the Recruiting Station there. He was assigned to Fort Hood, TX next where he served as an S4 and later as executive officer for the 522nd Military Intelligence Battalion, as well as challenging G4 staff duties for the 2d Armored Division. After Fort Hood, Dan returned to Nellingen Barracks, Germany for assignment to the 2nd Support Command.
Dan’s final assignment was as an advisor to the Nebraska National Guard, from which he retired from active duty in 1989. Following retirement, Dan remained in Nebraska and had a home in Papillion. Due to some health issues, Dan elected to enjoy the retired life and spend as much time as possible in the outdoors where he greatly enjoyed hunting and fishing. More than anything, though, he enjoyed frequent trips to Colorado to spend time with his daughter, Tiffany, and his grandchildren.
With his lifelong friend, Joe Perkins, Dan hunted big game in Nebraska and Colorado, and it was on one of these hunts in November 2005 that Dan experienced a heart attack. Efforts to revive him by his hunting companions, Joe being one of them, were not successful, and Dan passed away in the great outdoors he loved so much.
Dan devoted much time to helping veterans he met at the VA or through his membership in the VFW. As we classmates know so well, Dan cared for others and was always willing to assist in any way he could. Dan impressed his daughter, Tiffany, with his willingness to work with homeless veterans and his support of the Salvation Army during the holidays by manning the kettle and ringing the bell. He epitomized the parable of “Love Thy Neighbor.” He commented to Tiffany that these men were his brothers. It is good to know that the character traits we saw in Buck at West Point were exhibited throughout his life with others he encountered along the way.
Dan passed away before we as a Class published our Legacy book. Many of us have been impressed and moved by the writings and reflections of our classmates on the lives, accomplishments, and experiences of every one of us. Dan Buechner, if the had had the opportunity, would have been able to write about his life, a life well lived in service to our nation, his daughter, his many lasting friends, his brothers-in-arms, and to others. He lived our motto of “Duty, Honor, Country” every day of his life and is a member of our Long Gray Line forever.
— Robert R. Harper Jr. ’69