Victor "Pat" Buckley '66 arrived at the Naval Academy as a legacy — his father was '39 and his brother '64. "Pat has always faced life straightforwardly, except plebe year when he and his chin looked at the world with a 15° port list. One of the few men around that can see humor in almost anything, he has often dispelled tense moments with a quip that makes everyone forget the tension of the time."
Pat's A-7 Corsair II went missing on December 16, 1969, while returning to USS Hancock from a combat mission over North Vietnam. He was a Lieutenant serving with Light Photographic Squadron (VFP) 63.
He is remembered: "I wish that I had the words to describe to you what a handsome, bright, dynamic individual he was. He just loved life and had so much to offer." Another friend: "A lifetime ago, when Pat was an Ensign in flight training at Meridian, MS, we were friends. Actually, we dated for a while. How he loved life, laughter, his TR3, his motorcycle, and flying jets! Time spent with Pat was time spent having fun."
Pat's family will be among those that is honored for their service and sacrifice at the annual Honor Our Fallen Heroes event in November. See https://www.usna.com/hofh for more information on the event.
To Honor!