Paul William Bucha Vietnam War Veteran Date of Birth: 01.08.1943 Country: USA

1. Early Life and Education
2. Military Service and Vietnam
3. Post-Vietnam Career
4. Political Involvement
5. Personal Life and Death

Early Life and Education

Born in Washington, D.C., on August 1, 1943, James Buchly's Croatian grandfather had emigrated from Našice to the United States. After an illustrious high school swimming career that earned him all-American status, Buchly declined scholarship offers from multiple universities in favor of attending the United States Military Academy at West Point.

After graduating from West Point, he obtained an MBA from Stanford University before commencing his military service at Fort Campbell.

Military Service and Vietnam

In 1967, Buchly was deployed to Vietnam as a captain and company commander of D Company of the 3rd Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment. On March 16, 1968, he led his 89-man company on a helicopter assault southwest of Phước Vĩnh, Binh Duong Province, tasked with locating and engaging enemy forces.

While encountering minimal resistance during the initial reconnaissance, on March 18, a 12-man point squad stumbled upon a full battalion of North Vietnamese Army (NVA) troops camped for the night. The squad came under heavy fire and was pinned down.

Undeterred, Buchly crawled forward and destroyed a North Vietnamese bunker. He then rallied his men, distributed ammunition, and coordinated artillery and helicopter fire support. At one point, he used flashlights in a clearing to guide the inbound helicopters delivering supplies and evacuating casualties.

The following morning, after the NVA forces had withdrawn, Buchly led a patrol to recover soldiers cut off from the company.

Post-Vietnam Career

Upon his return to the United States in April 1970, Buchly taught political science at the United States Military Academy at West Point. During this time, he received the Medal of Honor for his actions at Phước Vĩnh.

Buchly retired from the Army in 1972 and worked as the chief operating officer of Ross Perot's Electronic Data Systems (EDS) in Iran. In 1979, when several company employees were detained during the Iranian Revolution, Buchly played a role in securing their release.

Subsequently, he founded his own company, which assisted foreign investors in finding American partners. He also partnered with a French developer to initiate construction in Port Liberty, New Jersey.

In later years, Buchly served as chairman of the Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel Corporation and as a president of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society. He held board positions in numerous organizations, including Veterans Advantage, a non-profit organization providing exclusive benefits to the military community.

Political Involvement

Buchly was active in politics, advising Barack Obama on international policy during the 2008 presidential campaign. In 1993, he unsuccessfully ran as a Republican candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives.

Personal Life and Death

Buchly resided in Ridgefield, Connecticut, with his wife Cynthia. He had four children. He passed away in West Haven, Connecticut, on July 31, 2024, one day before his 81st birthday.