Phil H. Bucklew
| Phil H. Bucklew | |
|---|---|
Phil Bucklew in 1944
|
|
| Nickname(s) | Buck |
| Born | December 18, 1914 Columbus, Ohio |
| Died | December 30, 1992 (aged 78) Fairfax, Virginia |
| Buried at | Arlington National Cemetery |
| Allegiance |
 United States of America
|
| Service/branch |
 United States Navy
|
| Years of service | 1942–1969 |
| Rank |
 Captain
|
| Unit |
 SEALs
|
| Commands held | Naval Special Warfare Group One |
| Battles/wars |
World War II Korean War Vietnam War |
| Awards |
Navy Cross (2) Silver Star Bronze Star Croix de Guerre (France) |
Phil Hinkle Bucklew (December 18, 1914 – December 30, 1992) was a professional American football player who went on to become a United States Navy officer. He served in one of the Navy's first special warfare units during World War II. While serving in the European Theater, he was twice awarded the Navy Cross, the second highest decoration in the United States Military.
After World War II, Bucklew completed his PhD at Columbia University and went on to command SEAL Team One. In the early stages of the Vietnam War he authored a report in which he predicted the Vietcong would make use of the intercoastal waterways and rivers as routes for supplies and personnel. Although it was initially dismissed, this report was later used as a source to increase the use of Navy SEALs in direct action missions. In 1969 Bucklew retired as a Captain and worked as a consultant for a shipbuilding company in the private sector.
Bucklew died in 1992 after a series of strokes. He is known as the "Father of U.S. Naval Special Warfare" and the Phil Bucklew Naval Special Warfare Center in Coronado, California bears his name.
Bucklew was born and raised in Columbus, Ohio where he attended Columbus North High School. He went on to attend Xavier University in Cincinnati, where he earned fame as a football player (fullback, punter, and tight end). After college, Bucklew played for the Cleveland Rams in 1937 and 1938. In 1939, Bucklew left the Rams and founded the Columbus Bullies; he was their coach for two years, until the United States entered World War II in 1941.
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