Donald Francis Buckley was born on 23 August 1917, in Marion, Ohio. His parents are Frederick J. & Rose E. (Osborn) Buckley. Donald F. Buckley attended and graduated from Harding High School, in 1935. Donald was well known in the community as a softball player. He had been employed with the Universal Cooler Inc. and was working with Marion Steam Shovel Company, as a moulder in the steel foundry at the plant, when he entered service.

Donald was married to Patricia (Myers), and together they had a son, John S. Buckley.
Donald F. Buckley had been stationed at Camp Gruber, Oklahoma, prior to leaving for overseas duty. He served with the 48th Engineer Combat Battalion. He attained the rank of First Sergeant.

The 48th Engineer Combat Battalion thought so highly of First Sergeant Buckley, that they used him as the definition of a “First Sergeant.”

First sergeant is a hard job in the army if a man is really conscientious about his work. The job has no limits. A first sergeant is an arbiter between the officers and the men. He has to know everything that is going on, and should be personally interested in every man in the company. He has records like the Guard Roster, Sick Book and the Morning Report to keep, and must be capable of relieving the company commander of many burdens and make decisions in the absence of company officers.
Able Company’s 1st Sgt. Buckley was a rare soldier, and at the same time a gentlemen and undoubtedly the most popular man in Able Company. The men of the company would not hesitate to come to him with their troubles, and he would help them out anyway that he could. He was the real first soldier and would fit into any crowd, yet hold the respect and admiration of every men present. Sergeant Buckley was not afraid of officers or his job. He gained the trust of every officer in the battalion and had as much a hand in running the company as any officer present. In basic training, the officers noticed that one particular private stood out among the rest, and they rose rapidly through the ranks, and when the company moved for overseas, he was their toppick.

From : We the 48th
Editor: T/Sgt. William Smucker, Manager Pfc. Marvin Titcomb, Composition, Cpl. WalterGiven, Cpl. Warren Wyncop and Staff

On 6 January 1944, as First Sergeant of his company of combat engineers, First Sergeant Buckley took the initiative and lead a stranded company out of a mine field. As the company was part of the lead of an advance, the enemy began to shell them with artillery. Two platoons became separated from the company. First Sergeant Buckley entered the mine field and lead the two platoons out to safety. In the absence of the commanding officer, Buckley again took the lead to take the entire company on their objective. He had to again enter a minefield, where an enemy S-mine detonated. First Sergeant Buckley was injured along with three other members of the company.

…suddenly up ahead of the line, there was an explosion. Everyone hit the ground and clung to the path. There was some confusion up ahead and someone called for the Medics. First Sergeant Buckley, leading the company had hit a mine. Sergeant Buckley and three men were wounded. Sergeant LeFeverer was lying out in the field with blood streaming from his leg. Sergeant Pacquin and a medic headed out into the minefield after him. Le Feverer’s leg was dangling contorted at his side. Sergeant Pacquin pulled out his pocket knife and cut it off. The medic applied a tourniquet, gave the wounded man a shot of morphine and sprinkled sulfamilinide on the raw wound. But the company was in the attack and they could not wait. They continued through the field with the wounded Sergeant Buckley in the lead until they came to a small creek. There was no bridge to either side of them, so Sergeant Buckley led the men across the creek and into a line about 150 yards away from the base of the mountain.
Sergeant Buckley found Lieutenant Munson at the foot of the hill, and the lieutenant assumed command of the company again. Sergeant Buckley hadn’t paused for first aid and was bleeding badly. He was ordered to the first aid station, and led a detail on the way back, safely through the field to where the other three wounded men were lying .. Sergeant Le Feverer was evacuated on a stretcher made from rifles and blankets, and the small party of wounded and medics started back for Knox Avenue and the forward aid station.

From : We the 48th

First Sergeant Donald F. Buckley would not only receive a Purple Heart, but was also cited for his self initiative in leading the company towards their mission. He earned the Silver Star for his actions.
On 18 February 1944, 1st Sgt. Donald F. Buckley was killed in action. He left behind a wife and 20-month old son.
First Sergeant Donald F. Buckley is buried New Albany National Cemetery, New Albany, Floyd County, Indiana.
Donald F. Buckley is remembered on the Honor Roll, at the Veterans Memorial Park, in Marion, Ohio; on the west wall of the Marion County Courthouse; and on the World War II Veterans Memorial Wall, at the Marion Cemetery.

Read more about how the men of the 48th Engineers felt about their First Sergeant:

Sergeant Buckley realized that he had a 24 hour a day job, and he would constantly visit the work sites, and check on the men at their work. He would lend a hand himself, and get right down with the men at their work to learn for himself the problems that his company was meeting. As a direct result of Sergeant Buckley’s influence, Able Company was a happy unit. Every man was proud to be in Able Company and did his job better and faster than he did before. Morale is a big thing in war. It will make the difference between a job well done and a job muddled. Somehow, when the men work happily, the job is always better. There is a lot of pride in work, and work that is well done is the trade mark of a happy company.
When Able Company went up as Infantry on Mt. Porchia, Sergeant Buckley ran up against his first obstacle as a combat leader. Before the men had reached the mountain, Buckley had gone up and down the line of men time and again in hopes to bolster their courage and morale. He constantly urged all the men to trust in God and everything would be all right. He always managed to be at the head of the column when the going was tough. Finally, though severely wounded, Sergeant Buckley had to be ordered to leave the company for medical attention.
Upon returning from the hospital Sergeant Buckley continued to work unselfishly for the benefits
of others and constantly visited the men on their work sites.
One day, while returning from delivering a message to the forward elements of his company, Sergeant Buckley was caught in an enemy artillery barrage. The jeep was riddled and a small fragment of shrapnel pierced his throat. Sergeant Buckley died in a forward aid station.
The men heard that he had died when they returned from work that night and many couldn’t believe it. Many of the men failed to go to supper that night, while others remained awake late that night, because they realized that they had lost a real friend. They remembered then that nothing used to please the sergeant more than if he could notify some weary soldier in the middle of a cold black night that he had just been chosen to attend some rest-center for the next five days. There was no errand too long, no condition too trying, or no good deed too minor that wouldn’t merit his personal attention.
On two occasions the sergeant gave up his rest period so that someone else, beaten and tired, could go instead. ‘When a man went to the hospital, the job of taking care of his personal belongings, which is the squad sergeant’s job, was taken over by Sergeant Buckley. He spent many hours gathering personal belongings and taking care of the articles that belonged to the man.
Yes, every problem had an answer, every will had a way, nothing was impossible. He was never known to swear, never once became excited, yet always present, always driving, always striving to do something for someone else, and never expecting a favor in return. Sergeant Buckley was a true Christian Soldier and died as such, known by all who knew him as the real first soldier.
It was long after pay-day but the men of Able Company managed to gather 400 dollars for Sergeant Buckley’s wife and baby yet to be born; The men of Able Company could do no more.

From: We The 48th