Many personnel assigned to Adair Air Force Station were involved in action during World War II. I would like to spotlight one of them He and his wife were “homesteaders” at Adair AFS. He was POW of the Japanese.

CMSgt Marvin Clarence Buckem

Born 14 April 1919, Fortuna, ND (raised in Springfield, OR).  Died 21 March 2004, Bellingham, WA.  Buried at Green Acres Memorial Park, Ferndale, WA

1937 – His family moved from Fortuna to Springfield, OR.

1940 – Entered the U.S. Army Air Corps, Philippine Department, in Eugene, OR, taking the oath of enlistment at Ft. Lewis, WA.  Basic training was at Fort McDowell, Sausalito, CA.  Technical training was at Chanute Field, IL.

1941  – 1945  –  WWII, Aviation Mechanic, 5^th Bomber Command, 19^th Bombardment Group, 28 Bombardment Squadron, Clark Field, Philippines.  Rank: Corporal

1942 – 1945 – His unit transferred to Baatan and he was captured on Bataan, Mindinao, Philippines.  He was a Prisoner of War for 3 years near Tokyo, Japan.  He was also in POW camps at Kawasaki Camp 2B and Sendai and the Tokyo Sectional Camp #3, Hiraoka.  Rank: Corporal, promoted to TSgt while interred.

As a prisoner in Japan he spent his time working in factories.  The prisoners were fed meagerly, mostly soup, boiled barley and rice.  His weight went from 165 lbs to 95 lbs.  He was awarded with three Bronze Battle stars.

1945 – 1946 – Extended furlough (104 days) which included a vacation to Miami, FL at U.S. Army Air Corps (USAAC) expense.  He took his mother and sister with him.

1946 – Reenlisted into the U.S. Army Air Corps, Ft. Lewis, WA.  Rank: TSgt

1946 – Married Ellen Gail Pulaski (1918-2002), Eugene, OR.  Children: Patricia Gail, Pamela Kay.  Ellen worked for several years in the Adair AFS Transportation section.

1946 – 1951 – Supply Sergeant, McClellan Field, Sacramento, CA.  He attended Quartermaster School at Ft. Lee, VA during this time.  Rank: TSgt, promoted to MSgt

1951 – 1955 – Instructor and Detachment Supply Sergeant, Air Force ROTC , Willamette University, Salem, OR.  Rank: MSgt

1955 – 1956 – Supply Sergeant, McClellan AFB, Sacramento, CA.  Rank: MSgt

1956 – 1959 – Supply Sergeant, Zaragoza AB, Spain.  He was amongst the earliest to be assigned at Zaragoza AB. Rank: MSgt

1959 – 1960 – Instructor and Logistics Supervisor, AF ROTC, Oregon State College, Corvallis, OR.  Rank: MSgt