John Buckley
Jonathan Buckley was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on April 31, 1893. He was the son of John Buckley Sr. and Mrs Georgina Buckley. Since his father was a Senator for Colorado, he moved around quite a bit, meaning that he attended many different schools. He went to two schools in Colorado and two schools in Wisconsin. He ended up graduating from Lincoln High with the class of 1912.

His first military experience came with the Colorado State Militia, where he served for 14 months before he was discharged in 1910. He was a late 'enlistee' because of his father's death. He was the man of the house and his mother did not want him to leave her and his two sisters. But finally on May 13, 1917, his mother allowed him to join his fellow Americans and join the Air Force, becoming an Aviator.

He was put into basic training and began to learn how to aviate. While in France he was never put into action but served as an aviation instructor. He taught many men and was a great teacher, but on November 18, 1918, he was doing a practice run, and had a fatal accident with the plane, which took his life. He was a great son, friend, and soldier.

Drew Heinrich, Student
East Junior High, Wisconsin Rapids

During World War I more than 210,000 brave men volunteered to serve our country. When World War I was finished more than 100,000 men had been killed during the war. Every state in the union had people volunteer, including Wisconsin. One of the men who volunteered his service for the United States was John Buckley. John Buckley was a pilot who was willing to do everything for his country.

Pilots where at high risk of mortality in WWI because the planes where not as efficient as they are today. The airplanes went about 100 mph and the airplanes where made out of wood. The pilots did not have parachutes which would save them in a case of a crash. The pilots wore a leather hat, goggles, a long jacket and a scarf. The British and French built over 125,000 aircrafts while Germany had only 50,000 aircrafts.

Lieut. John Buckley from Grand Rapids was apart of the many respected and loved Americans who lost their lives in World War I. Lieut. John Buckley was serving his country in the battlefields of France when his plane crashed and he was killed on November 8th. There were six John Buckley’s serving over seas at the time Lieut. John Buckley lost his life and there was a hope for a little while by his family that there was a mistake, but later tests confirmation showed it was John Buckley from Grand Rapids that had lost his young but grateful life.

Lieut. John Buckley was born on April 31, 1893 in Milwaukee Wisconsin. His family then moved to Grand Rapids. He graduated from Lincoln High School with the class of 1912. John was an only son but that didn’t stop him from wanting to help out his country. He was a tall, strong, handsome kid with a very bright future ahead of him. John was a part of the State Militia, private company E, Second Regiment, Infantry and was discharged in 1910.

Most of us did not know Lieut. John Buckley personally but it takes a lot of heart and love of this country to put your life on the line for your country which unfortunately John lost. Without people like this our country would not be the most powerful country in the World. Lieut. John Buckley may not have been the most famous Lieut. of World War I but he was still a very important person. Every person who has given their life for their Country is a hero and John Buckley from Grand Rapids is one of those heroes.

Brady Goska
East Junior High School

In the early 1900’s, many young, brave men lost their lives fighting for America and defending our country. In the year 1914, World War I began and ended four years later in 1918. It was a world conflict and was called The War to End all Wars, as well as the Great War, the War of the Nations, and the First World War. There were two sides to this war- the Allies and the Central Powers. In the end, World War One was the second bloodiest conflict recorded in history, according to www.worldwar-1.net. The many young men sacrificed their lives and died fighting for this country, including several from Wisconsin.

Many young men were called to join the army during World War One. The call came to men all throughout the nation. Several of those calls came to Wisconsin. John W. Buckley received a call to go serve his country during the Great War. John Buckley was born on April 31, 1893 in Milwaukee, WI, to his mother Mrs. Georgiana Buckley. He graduated from Lincoln High School in the year of 1912. John was a fearless and brave man. When John was called to serve the nation, there was one particular thing he liked most about fulfilling his duty- flying.

In the beginning of World War I, the United States production of aircraft was non-existant. The manufacture of training aircraft was the focus of wartime production, such as aircraft engines and the British De Havilland. On November 29, 1917 a Naval Aircraft Factory was completed in Philadelphia, which was created for future designs of aircraft and to watch the industry profits. By creating a place for designs for future aircrafts, more jobs opened up in the aircraft area. However, only a few of those aircrafts designed were used in World War I. Some of the men in the army were to become instructors for the aerial corps. John W. Buckley was one of these instructors.

John W. Buckley was an instructor in the aerial Corps. Buckley said he loved the airplane work and had no fear whatever. John took up a high interest in his work. He loved the airplanes. However, on November 8, 1918, John Buckley got into an airplane and crashed at a battlefield in France. Buckley was only 25 years old at the time of his death. He was such a young man who died because he needed to protect, and serve us to his fullest at his time of duty.

John W. Buckley was a true, courageous man. He acted as a hero by being fearless, and brave. He will always be remembered as a young man, who died and fought for our nation when we needed him.

By: Teri Rayome
East Junior High School

There are many Known reasons why America had to enter WWI. Some of those many reasons include: the United States had huge economic investments with the British and also with the French. Therefore if the British and French were to lose the war neither country would be able to pay the two-billion dollars in debt back.

Another reason is that by entering the war the United States could establish itself as a world power. But the most convincing reason why we had entered the war was because of the sinking of the Lusitania. The Lusitania was a British Transport ship. There was a German U-boat ring that sank the Lusitania as a part of its efforts to sink all supply ships headed towards Britain. A total of 1195 people died, including 128 Americans. There is some speculation that the British had arranged to have the Lusitania sunk in order to get the Americans to join the war.

By James Jaworski
East Junior High School

John W. Buckley, son of Georgiana Buckley, “was a young, eager man who wanted to enlist from the beginning of the war.” Buckley was born in Milwaukee, April 31, in 1893. As a child he attended schools in Milwaukee, Madison, Grand Rapids, and in Montrose, Colorado. In the year 1912 Buckley graduated from Lincoln High School in Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin. After he graduated, he went on to enter the service of the government. During his time in Colorado, he was a member of the state Militia. When the war was declared, Buckley enlisted May 13, 1917. From then on, he was known as Lieutenant Buckley.

The battle of Soissons was one of the several important battles of WWI. It took place in the vicinity of the French town Soissons. As stated earlier, Buckley was 1st Lieutenant. He was part of the United States Army. During his time in the army, Buckley was stationed in Aerial school, in France, near the town of Soissons. It is known that John W. Buckley enjoyed his time at Aerial school.

On Friday November 8, 1918, John W. Buckley, at only age 25, was killed in an airplane accident. The specific ingredients to the cause of the accident are unknown. But it is known that this accident came into action on the last days of the war. The accident may have also occurred during instructions at his camp in France, where Buckley had been giving instructions.

I believe John W. Buckley will be remembered as an outgoing courageous man who served his country when help was desperately needed.