James Campbell Buie – Colonel, United States Air Force

From a contemporary press report:

James Campbell Buie, 76, a former McLean resident and retired Air Force Colonel who was a bomber pilot in World War II and an intelligence officer in Vietnam during the war there, died February 17, 1999 at the Belvoir Woods Health Care Center. He had Parkinson’s disease.

Colonel Buie, a native of North Carolina, served 32 years in the military, beginning with the Army Air Corps in 1942. During World War II, he served in Europe as a B-26 bomber pilot, and he flew 34 combat missions.

After the war, he graduated from Duke University and received intelligence assignments with the U.S. Air Force European headquarters in Germany, the Inspector General’s Office, the Strategic Air Command and the Defense Intelligence Agency.

During the Vietnam War, he served in that country with the 7th Air Force.

His military honors included the Legion of Merit, the Distinguished Flying Cross and two Bronze Stars.

After his military retirement in 1974, he received a master’s degree in history from George Mason University and worked there as director of mail service until 1986.

He was a Mason and a member of the Sojourners.

Survivors include his wife of 51 years, Sarah D. Buie of Worcester, Mass.; two sons, James C. Buie Jr. of Ross, Calif., and John Virden Welsh Buie of Scarborough, Maine; a sister; three brothers; and three grandchildren.

BUIE, JAMES C., SR. Col. USAF (Ret.)

On February 17, 1999. Survived by his wife, Sarah W. Buie and his children, Sarah D. Buie of Worcester, MA, James C. Buie, Jr., of Ross, CA, John V.W. Buie, of Scarborough, ME. Also survived by three grandchildren; brothers and sister, Eva Mae Little, of Linden, NC, Alton C. Buie, of Melbourne, FL, Dwan C. Buie, of Melbourne, FL, Marion C. Buie of Newport Beach, CA. Friends are invited to attend a graveside service on Monday, March 1 at 3 p.m. at Arlington National Cemetery. A memorial service will be held at 4:30 p.m. at the Fairfax, 9140 Belvoir Woods Pkwy., Ft. Belvoir, VA, with a reception to follow. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to American Parkinson’s Disease, 3020 Hamaker Ct., Fairfax, VA 22031.

Michael Robert Patterson

Michael Robert Patterson was born in Arlington and is the son of a former officer of the US Army. So it was no wonder that sooner or later his interests drew him to American history and especially to American military history. Many of his articles can be found on renowned portals like the New York Times, Washingtonpost or Wikipedia.

Reviewed by: Michael Howard