Remembering Them Forever (RTF)!
Military Information:
- BSM: Bronze Star Medal
- PH: Purple Heart
- WWII Veteran
- TVHOF Valor Award
- WWII Victory Medal
- US Army Air Corps or Forces
- CIB: Combat Action/Infantry Badge
- GCM: Good Conduct Medal
- 1-Alpha List
- EAME (European-African- Middle Eastern) Campaign Medal
- American Campaign Medal
- TVHOF Class of 2025
- French Congressional Medal Of Honor
Dates of Service 1:
Service Start Date: NA Service End Date: NA
Dates of Service 2:
Service Start Date: NA Service End Date: NA
Bio:
Chester P. "Buck" Sloan was born on June 1, 1924 in Kerens, Texas . At the age of 18, Buck was drafted into the US Army. Buck landed on Omaha Beach a few days after D-Day, where he was originally a truck driver for a short duration of time. On June 16, 1944 Buck joined Company B, 38th Inf. Regt., 2nd Infantry Division near Hill 192 in Normandy, France as a replacement B.A.R gunner as the former B.A.R gunner had been Killed In Action. At that time he was assigned to his squad as an automatic rifleman carrying a Browning Automatic Rifle M1918. During the Battle for Brest in September 1944, Buck captured approximately 30 German Soldiers and their Officer. He still has the pistol that he got from the Officer. Buck would continuously be on the frontline in combat all the way to Belgium. During the Battle of the Bulge in Rocherath - Krinkelt , on December 18, 1944, Buck was wounded when a German hand grenade exploded near him. The rest of the war he spent in hospitals in France and then in a convalescent center in Coventry, England. Buck was awarded a Purple Heart and French Foreign Legion Medal of Honor for his Service.
Buck came back home in July 1945 with lots of stories, but one amazing story is about a young Polish Boy named Joe who lost both his parents during the fighting. He and his fellow soldiers looked after him. When it was time to come back home Buck remembers saying “What are we going to do with little Joe?” Sergeant Rickie said hold on, he went and got a duffle bag. They put little Joe in there and Buck carried him up the gang plank. Little Joe was coming to America. Sergeant Rickie ended up adopting him. Buck is the last surviving member of his World War II Division.
In March of 1976 Buck married his wife Shirley. Buck and his wife Shirley started the Buckshot Jamboree in Houston Texas in 2007. In June 2008 Buck was inducted into the Western Swing Music Society of The Southwest Hall of Fame for being an accomplished musician and songwriter. Buck still serves his community by hosting the Jamboree every Saturday night. It’s a relaxing place for a potluck, listening to music, and enjoying fellowship and where everyone is treated as family. The Jamboree walls are filled with memorabilia of his rich life history. Buck is known as an outstanding musician. He plays both fiddle, guitar and also sings. Buck has composed several songs about his war experiences. Many Saturday nights you can still see Buck and Shirley dancing the jitterbug.
https://youtu.be/PYPfegxu3VI?si=NCuVEdpIUVoEEbIL
https://youtu.be/nzlKaQbk_84?si=cY1HmQcfoOMa4UJx
https://normandy-victory-museum.fr/en/public-meeting-with-a-us-veteran-chester-pike-buck-sloan/
Photos:
