William Thomas “Buck” Rogers – Colonel, United States Army

From a contemporary press report

Army Colonel and Chief Judge William “Buck” Rogers, 83, a decorated Army colonel and World War II and Korean War veteran who served as chief judge of the Army’s Court of Criminal Appeals before his retirement in 1974, died of lung disease August 13, 1998 at Goodwin House in Falls Church, Virginia.

Colonel Rogers had served more than 30 years in the military, with the last 16 in the Judge Advocate General Corps. There, he served as trial lawyer before the Armed Services Board of Contract Appeals and later as a senior judge and chief judge on the Court of Criminal Appeals.

He began his military career in 1941 and attained a commission from the Infantry School a year later. He was a company commander and battalion operations officer with the 28th Infantry Division as it fought in five battles in northern France and Western Europe, including the Battle of the Bulge.

A native of New York City, he returned home after the war and received a degree from Fordham Law School. He worked at a New York law firm for several years before he was recalled to active duty in 1952. His assignments took him to the Command and General Staff College as a tactics and logistics instructor and the 7th Cavalry Regiment as a battalion commander.

His military honors include the Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster, Bronze Star with V for valor and two oak leaf clusters and an Army Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters.

His first wife, Helen P. Rogers, died in 1980.

Survivors include his wife, Bernell Rogers of Falls Church, and two children from his first marriage, Virginia Rogers of Falls Church and William Rogers of Springfield.

ROGERS, WILLIAM THOMAS, COL, USA (Ret.)

On Thursday, August 13, 1998, of Falls Church, VA, beloved husband of Bernell S. Rogers; loving father of Virginia A. Rogers and William T. Rogers, Jr. He is also survived by a brother, Harry Rogers; and a sister, Loretta Regan. Mass of Christian Burial will be offered on Thursday, August 27 at 10:45 a.m. at the Ft. Myer Old Post Chapel. Interment, with full military honors, at Arlington National Cemetery.

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