SS America
set sail for New York from Southampton, England on 4 October 1956

Buffkin Family
(lines 8-1) lists one passport number for John while wife Mary plus children John and Henry appeared on a second document.  All were born in South Carolina except Henry whose birthplace was Japan.

Ship Manifest
lists John as an "Army Officer" and indicates the family was traveling from Thailand and destined for the USA.

(courtesy of Cal Hutton)

Grave marker for John F. Buffkin, Jr. (Lt Col, ret.) in Section CT4-N, Row 300, Site 311 of the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, Honolulu (Honolulu county), Hawaii.

John enlisted in the Army at Orangeburg, SC on 16 September 1940 with the rank of Corporal carried from his service in the National Guard.

Within the next two years he was tapped for OCS and on 9 November 1942, 2nd Lt Buffkin appears on Genera Order 7 (amended by GO 8 to correct spelling) announcing him as Adjutant (S-1), Second Battalion.  He was promoted to 1st Lt on 24 February 1943.

Lt Buffkin was awarded the Bronze Service Arrowhead for his participation in the Holland campaign and Airborne operations,

1/Lt Buffkin was wounded in action during the Battle of The Bulge on 24 December 1944.  He was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for Meritorious Service on 31 August 1945.

Continuing his career after WWII, John also served in Korea and ultimately retired as a Lieutenant Colonel.