The Daily Alaska empire., 1945-06-19
COMMANDER ON 0kINAWA
 WAR VICTIM.
Lieutenant General Buck ner, Jr., Died df Point
 of Final Victory
By Al Dopking
Associated Press War vorresDondenD

U. S. TENTH ARMY HEAD QUARTERS, Okinawa, June lg.--Lt Gen. Simon Bolivar Buckner. Jr.. who had predicted that with any kind of luck" the fierce Okinawa campaign would end this week. was killed yesterday by Japanese shell almost at the moment of final vic- tory by his Tenth Army.
 The stury, silver-haired Kentuek- ian, who at 58 had won a reputa- ton for aggressiveness and .discip- line, was the highest ranking Amer can to die enemy action in the Pacific war and was the 22nd gen. sral officer killed or missing in &C., tion against Germany and Japan.
 Death At Front
 Death came at forward Cbserva- ion post as Buckner watched the Marine Eighth Regimental combat team--newly arrived on Okinawa plunge southward against the re- treating Japanese in a climactic assault on the southern tip of the island.
 The first Japanese shell to strike that vicinity all day burst directly )n rock where he was seated. A large fragment of steel or coral pierced his chest at HIS p. m. 2 Several more shells struck the position, so that Marine officers had to carry Buckner to shelter behind a cliff before first aid and plasma 1ould be administered. At I:25 D. n. ten minutes after he was hit, Gen. Buckner died.
 Change of Command
 Command of the Tenth Army and of the ground forces in the Ryukyus devolved immediately upon Maj. Gen. Roy s. Geiger, Commander of the Marine Third Amphibious Corps. part of the Tenth Army. Geiger 'ecently was nominated for Lieuter- int General.
 Adm. Chester w. Nimitz, over- all Commander of the operations, crmally announced Buckner's death .oday and issued this message to he forces under his command:
 Although we join in grieving over he loss of your able and courage our leader, It. Gen. Ruckner, all of us in the Pacific Ocean areas take pride in the day of victory on which he gallantly met a soldiers ieath.
 New Inspiration
 By the achievements of the Tenth Army in the Ckinawa campaign un- der his leadership. we win all gain new inspiration to overcome any and Ill obstacles standing between us and final victory over Japan"
 Nimitz did not elaborate on his reference to the day of victory" but Vice Adm. Harry Hill. in a mes- sage of condolence. also referred to Buckners "untimely death in the nour of victory"
 Expressions of regret also were made by Secretaries Stimson and Forrestal and by Adm. Ernest King. Only the day before Buckner's death, Adm. Nimitz stoutly had de- tended Buckner's Okinawa campaign | against criticism by Newspaper Col imnist David Lawrence. Funeral Services
 Funeral services for the General were held at g a. m. today at a Seventh Infantry Division cemetery near Hagushi Beach. A bugle sound ed taps as the simple wooden cof- in was lowered into the grave. and ln honor guard fired a last salute. The Stars and stripes whipped in the breeze overhead alongside Buckner's .hree-star personal flag. Thus ended the career of the sec md American Lieutenant General to ,ear the name of Simon Bolivar Buckner.
 The first was his father. who was breed to surrender Fort Donelson Q Gen. U. s. Grant early in the Civil War. but who was exchanged and rose to a Lieutenant Generalcy efore the war ended. Later he was governor of Kentucky. where Simon. IT,, was born near Munfordville, on July IS, 1886.
 West Point Graduate
 Young Buckner attended Virginia Military Institute and then the U. S. Military Academy at West Point. where he was graduated in 1908. He served two tours of duty in the Philippines, was an early student of aviation, and twice was an in- tructor at West Point. where he