APRIL 29, 2022
PAGE 55
Ocean City Today
WORLD WAR II
OBITUARIES
Continued from Page 54 On April 29, the Chinese hasty defense of Lashio succumbed to the heavy artillery of the Japanese. The Burma Road, the Allies’ supply route to China, was now cut off. Mandalay had been hit by several air raids, the most devastating occurring on April 3, 1942. Japanese bombers created a firestorm by dropping incendiary bombs that destroyed 60 percent of the city. Visiting Mandalay shortly after the bombing, American reporter Clare Booth Luce described the city, “Every house was burned down or still flaming and smoldering. A terrible stink arose from 2,000 bodies in the ruins of brick, plaster and twisted tin roofing. Only the smoke-grimed stone temple elephants on the scarred path were watching guard over the Road to Mandalay...” On May 1, Mandalay fell to the Japanese as Allied armies were now in full retreat back to China and India. With the fall of Mandalay and Lashio, Burma was now under Japanese control. The Allies tried to compensate for the Burma Road traffic by flying supplies over “The Hump” over the Himalaya Mountains, from India to China. While it was somewhat successful, it still could never match the volume hauled over the land routes through Burma. Next week: Battle of Coral Sea
KENNETH FRANCIS BUCKLEY Ocean Pines Kenneth Francis Buckley, 72, of The Parke in Ocean Pines, Maryland, passed away on April 17, 2022, at home surrounded by his significant other of 10 years, Joan Twigg, and his immediate family. After a courageous two-year battle, he succumbed to a rare biliary duct cancer. Ken was born on Sept. 11, 1949, in Boston, Massachusetts. He was the eldest child of the late Robert and Helen (nee Oatway) Buckley. Upon graduating from Charlestown High School, he entered the U.S. Army. He served two tours of duty in Vietnam and returned to the Ft. Meade, Maryland, area in 1970. He transitioned to civilian employment with the U.S. Army (DOL/NSA) and retired after 41 years of service. Ken and Joan relocated to Ocean Pines in 2015 and Ken quickly secured a seasonal position at Eagles Landing Golf Course, a job he truly cherished. He was an avid sports fan all his life, especially all teams Boston, however, he did remain loyal to Tom Brady! A lover of many sports, he played ice hockey, and men’s softball, and coached his son’s Little League teams. His favorite sport was golf even though he started later in life. Ken and Joan both enjoyed the
Kenneth Buckley
sport equally, taking every opportunity to play together often and play wherever and whenever they traveled, making for some fantastic memories. Additionally, he enjoyed spending time with his children and grandchildren during holidays and trips to the beach. Ken is survived by his daughter, Patricia McGrath (Steve) of Annapolis, Maryland; his son, Christopher (Monica) of Millersville, Maryland; and his five grandchildren, Reagan and Corinne McGrath, Madison, Brayden and Carson Buckley, and their mother/grandmother, Jeanne
Reilly of Severna Park, Maryland. He was preceded in death by his wives, Tonja Buckley and Peggy McClure, and son-in-law, Michael McGrath. The Buckley family wishes to extend their most heartfelt thanks to Coastal Hospice and the staff of Johns Hopkins Oncology Department. Memorial donations in his name may be made to CoastalHospital.org/makea-donation/ or AssateagueIslandAlliance.org. A Celebration of Life will be held on May 7, 2022, at The Parke at Continued on Page 56
