We are sad to report the passing of a true American hero and former Ridgefield resident, Paul Bucha. A Congressional Medal of Honor recipient and Vietnam War veteran, Captain Bucha passed away today, Wednesday, July 31, 2024, at 80.
Bucha was sent to Vietnam in 1967 as a captain and commander of U.S. Army, Company D, 3rd Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment. One of his heroic acts took place on March 16, 1968, when he and his company of 89 men were dropped by helicopter southwest of Phuoc Vinh in Binh Duong Province. The company's lead group of about twelve men came under heavy fire and was pinned down. Captain Bucha crawled towards them and destroyed an NVA bunker. As the NVA forces withdrew, he led a party to rescue those soldiers who had been cut off from the rest of the company.
On May 14, 1970, President Richard M. Nixon awarded Captain Bucha the Medal of Honor in a White House ceremony. In 2007, Bucha reflected, "The medal that I wear, I wear on behalf of others, not myself."
After his tour of duty in Vietnam, Paul W. Bucha went on to teach at West Point. More recently, he served as a foreign policy adviser to Barack Obama's 2008 presidential campaign and was a member of the Vietnam War 50th Commemoration Commission, established by President Obama.
Captain Bucha’s good friend, Emmy award-winner journalist Morton Dean, reflected, “I’m honored to have served on the commission with Paul. The group's last meeting was at the Pentagon where Paul and I received "The Secretary of Defense Medal for Outstanding Public Service." Being the recipient of a chest full of medals for military service, he [Paul] got a big kick out of seeing this old news reporter get a medal pinned on his sports coat!”
Captain Bucha never stopped advocating for and supporting our United States Military, especially those who returned home from war, often facing new emotional battles.
HamletHub took this photo of Captain Bucha a few years back on Main Street in Ridgefield. It was during the pandemic. Bucha leaned on the back of his SUV waiting for a Military flyover that never ended up happening. He was dressed in the colors of the American flag. More than 100 locals lined the streets and, after about an hour without a flyover, most people gave up and went home. Not Paul. You can read about that day in downtown Ridgefield here.
HamletHub salutes Captain Bucha and all the brave men and women who put themselves in harm's way for our Country. You've paid the price for our freedom. May you now rest in peace.