Gladney
Gladney B. Palmer
d. February 14, 2016
Gladney Buckner (Buck) Palmer, US Army Retired, of Huddleston VA, passed away peacefully on February 14, 2016 at 12:46 am in his home on Smith Mountain Lake. He was 90. Buck was born September 29, 1925 in Alexandria, Louisiana, to father Shelby Y. Palmer and mother Ruby Buckner Palmer. Buck attended schools in Louisiana, Texas, Mississippi, Washington DC, Virginia and Maryland graduating from Charlotte Hall Military Academy (CHMA) in southern Maryland in 1943.
Buck entered the US Army in August of 1943. After basic training at Fort Benning, GA, and Camp Livingston, LA, he served in the European Theater of Operation (ETO) during WWII. He served in the 97th Signal Battalion (Sig Bn), where he was shot in the foot while diving into a foxhole. He was then assigned to the 69th Sig Bn.
After WWII, he returned home to serve in the Army Reserve and study chemical engineering at Louisiana State University where he met Sarah Eugenia Livingston, his first wife and the mother of his two children. During that time he was recalled to duty during the Korean War where he served in the 185th Sig Bn out of Fort Polk.
Following the Korean war assignment, he decided to remain in the Army and served in many varied assignments, including the Yokohama Communications Center and Camp Young Hans Signal Office in Japan; the 501st Signal Corps in Fort Monmouth; instructor team in field communications at West Point. He served in the Military Assistance Advisory Group (MAAG) in Taiwan, advising the Nationalist Chinese army. Returning home, he served in the Louisiana Military District in New Orleans, LA, was an advisor to the Reserve unit at Monroe, LA; and the Defense Communications Agency (DCA) in Washington, D.C. It was during this assignment that he met Barbara Ann “Bobby” Toms. They married in 1963.
Buck then shipped back overseas to serve in the 51st Signal Battalion (Sig Bn) in Korea; the 125th Sig Bn in Hawaii, Vietnam and the U.S. Strategic Command (STRATCOM) in Okinawa, Japan,
He also served in the 67th Sig Bn at Fort Riley KS; the 304th Sig Bn in Korea; the 10th Transportation Bn and 39th Sig Bn in Vietnam, and STRATCOM CONUS in Fort Ritchie, MD. He retired in 1973 as Command Sergeant Major after 30 years of service to his country.
Following retirement, Buck and Bobbie traveled the continental United States in their motor home and breeding and showing Birman cats from their cattery Fuji’s Birmans. Bobby preceded Buck’s passing in 1997 after providing 34 years of love, support and companionship.
Buck Palmer is survived by son John R. Palmer and daughter-in-law Kari L.in Dallas, TX; grandson Daniel R. Palmer, his wife Jazmine, and 3 great-grandchildren in Dallas, TX; daughter Judith Rebecca “Becky” and her husband Larry Brenner of Austin, TX, a sister-in-law Lyn Toms and her husband, Richard Clayton of Locust Grove, VA; , and grandniece Samantha Jimenez and grandnephew Jake Jimenez of Sterling, VA.
A funeral service and interment will be held Tuesday, July 12, 2016 in Arlington National Cemetery at 11:00 a.m.
Tharp Funeral Home & Crematory, Bedford, is assisting the family. To send condolences, please visit obituaries.tharpfuneralhome.com.
Buck entered the US Army in August of 1943. After basic training at Fort Benning, GA, and Camp Livingston, LA, he served in the European Theater of Operation (ETO) during WWII. He served in the 97th Signal Battalion (Sig Bn), where he was shot in the foot while diving into a foxhole. He was then assigned to the 69th Sig Bn.
After WWII, he returned home to serve in the Army Reserve and study chemical engineering at Louisiana State University where he met Sarah Eugenia Livingston, his first wife and the mother of his two children. During that time he was recalled to duty during the Korean War where he served in the 185th Sig Bn out of Fort Polk.
Following the Korean war assignment, he decided to remain in the Army and served in many varied assignments, including the Yokohama Communications Center and Camp Young Hans Signal Office in Japan; the 501st Signal Corps in Fort Monmouth; instructor team in field communications at West Point. He served in the Military Assistance Advisory Group (MAAG) in Taiwan, advising the Nationalist Chinese army. Returning home, he served in the Louisiana Military District in New Orleans, LA, was an advisor to the Reserve unit at Monroe, LA; and the Defense Communications Agency (DCA) in Washington, D.C. It was during this assignment that he met Barbara Ann “Bobby” Toms. They married in 1963.
Buck then shipped back overseas to serve in the 51st Signal Battalion (Sig Bn) in Korea; the 125th Sig Bn in Hawaii, Vietnam and the U.S. Strategic Command (STRATCOM) in Okinawa, Japan,
He also served in the 67th Sig Bn at Fort Riley KS; the 304th Sig Bn in Korea; the 10th Transportation Bn and 39th Sig Bn in Vietnam, and STRATCOM CONUS in Fort Ritchie, MD. He retired in 1973 as Command Sergeant Major after 30 years of service to his country.
Following retirement, Buck and Bobbie traveled the continental United States in their motor home and breeding and showing Birman cats from their cattery Fuji’s Birmans. Bobby preceded Buck’s passing in 1997 after providing 34 years of love, support and companionship.
Buck Palmer is survived by son John R. Palmer and daughter-in-law Kari L.in Dallas, TX; grandson Daniel R. Palmer, his wife Jazmine, and 3 great-grandchildren in Dallas, TX; daughter Judith Rebecca “Becky” and her husband Larry Brenner of Austin, TX, a sister-in-law Lyn Toms and her husband, Richard Clayton of Locust Grove, VA; , and grandniece Samantha Jimenez and grandnephew Jake Jimenez of Sterling, VA.
A funeral service and interment will be held Tuesday, July 12, 2016 in Arlington National Cemetery at 11:00 a.m.
Tharp Funeral Home & Crematory, Bedford, is assisting the family. To send condolences, please visit obituaries.tharpfuneralhome.com.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Gladney B. Palmer, please visit our flower store.
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