Paul Bucha recipient of the Medal of Honor and the Purple Heart.
Paul William Bucha
Sir,
If you or anyone close to you can contact President Obama, his Chief of Staff Rahm Emmanuel, or Defense Secretary Robert Gates, please do so to help Buddy secure appointment as Secretary of the Army. See article below from this morning's News from Inside the Pentagon.
News from Inside the Pentagon:
Date: February 5, 2009
Retired Army Capt. Bud Bucha and retired Marine Maj. Gen. Arnold Punaro, two highly decorated veterans, are leading candidates for the Army secretary position in President Obama's administration, sources tell Inside the Pentagon.
The White House, which has sought to rapidly fill cabinet-level posts, has made no public announcements about who will succeed Army Secretary Pete Geren.
Reached via telephone at their respective homes this week, neither Bucha nor Punaro had any comment on whether they are under consideration for the job, though Bucha noted it would be a "tremendous honor and privilege" to serve in that capacity.
Born Aug. 1, 1943, Bucha attended the United States Military Academy at West Point and earned his MBA at Stanford University before beginning his military career, which took him to the Vietnam War, where he served from 1967 to 1970. On March 16, 1968, his 89-man company was inserted via helicopter into an North Vietnamese stronghold and ended up in a heavy firefight. Bucha won the Medal of Honor for his heroism in the fighting that ensued.
After leaving the Army in 1972, Bucha spent six years working at Electronic Data Systems, including in Tehran, Iran and Paris, France. He went on to develop Paul W. Bucha and Company, Incorporated (PWBCO) and has also served as a director of Wheeling-Pittsburgh Corporation, the parent of one of the nation's largest integrated steel manufacturing concerns.
Bucha, who was active in Obama's White House run, is a real estate developer who has lectured on ethics in business and government at Harvard University, Princeton University, Haverford College, the United States Military Academy, the United States Air Force Academy, the Merchant Marine Academy and the United States Coast Guard Academy. He speaks regularly to soldiers and veterans' groups.
Given this week's scandal over former Sen. Tom Daschle (D-SD)'s failure to pay back taxes, which unexpectedly prompted Daschle to withdraw is name from consideration as health secretary, the White House should generally be slower and more cautious as it deliberates nominations, a defense industry source opined. -- Christopher J. Castelli
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Letter from Admiral J.Robert Lunney on February 6, 2009 Dear Nenad, As you may recall, Paul "Buddy" Bucha when President of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society wrote a supporting letter, some ten years ago, on behalf of my effort to present the Tomich Medal to his family. I remember when speaking with him that he was curious about my effort in support of a Croatian because the Bucha family was Croatian! All the best, Bob
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Read Captain Paul William Bucha, US Army CITATION: http://www.medalofhonor.com/PaulBucha.htm
Rank and organization: Captain, U.S. Army, Company D, 3d Battalion. 187th Infantry, 3d Brigade, 101st Airborne Division. Place and date: Near Phuoc Vinh, Binh Duong Province, Republic of Vietnam, 16- 19 March 1968. Entered service at: U .S. Military Academy, West Point, N.Y. Born: 1 August 1943, Washington, D.C. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Capt. Bucha distinguished himself while serving as commanding officer, Company D, on a reconnaissance-in-force mission against enemy forces near Phuoc Vinh, The company was inserted by helicopter into the suspected enemy stronghold to locate and destroy the enemy. During this period Capt. Bucha aggressively and courageously led his men in the destruction of enemy fortifications and base areas and eliminated scattered resistance impeding the advance of the company. On 18 March while advancing to contact, the lead elements of the company became engaged by the heavy automatic weapon, heavy machine gun, rocket propelled grenade, Claymore mine and small-arms fire of an estimated battalion-size force. Capt. Bucha, with complete disregard for his safety, moved to the threatened area to direct the defense and ordered reinforcements to the aid of the lead element. Seeing that his men were pinned down by heavy machine gun fire from a concealed bunker located some 40 meters to the front of the positions, Capt. Bucha crawled through the hail of fire to single-handedly destroy the bunker with grenades. During this heroic action Capt. Bucha received a painful shrapnel wound. Returning to the perimeter, he observed that his unit could not hold its positions and repel the human wave assaults launched by the determined enemy. Capt. Bucha ordered the withdrawal of the unit elements and covered the withdrawal to positions of a company perimeter from which he could direct fire upon the charging enemy. When 1 friendly element retrieving casualties was ambushed and cut off from the perimeter, Capt. Bucha ordered them to feign death and he directed artillery fire around them. During the night Capt. Bucha moved throughout the position, distributing ammunition, providing encouragement and insuring the integrity of the defense. He directed artillery, helicopter gunship and Air Force gunship fire on the enemy strong points and attacking forces, marking the positions with smoke grenades. Using flashlights in complete view of enemy snipers, he directed the medical evacuation of 3 air-ambulance loads of seriously wounded personnel and the helicopter supply of his company. At daybreak Capt. Bucha led a rescue party to recover the dead and wounded members of the ambushed element. During the period of intensive combat, Capt. Bucha, by his extraordinary heroism, inspirational example, outstanding leadership and professional competence, led his company in the decimation of a superior enemy force which left 156 dead on the battlefield. His bravery and gallantry at the risk of his life are in the highest traditions of the military service, Capt. Bucha has reflected great credit on himself, his unit, and the U.S. Army.
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On May 19, 2008 Michelle Obama and Paul Bucha meet with servicemen's wives in Hopkinsville KY Quote from Wikipedia: Paul William Bucha was born on August 1, 1943, in Washington, D.C. He is of Croatian descent; his paternal grandfather immigrated to the United States from the Croatian town of Našice. An all-American swimmer in high school, Bucha was offered athletic scholarships to several universities but turned them down and attended the United States Military Academy at West Point. After graduation he earned an MBA at Stanford University before beginning his military career at Fort Campbell.
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