RALPH MAURICE BUFFINGTON , Class of 1949, died August 12, 1950, of wounds received in action, in Korea. He is survived by his widow, Barbara Buffington, of Falls Church, Virginia, and by his mother, Hildegarde Buffington, of Sarasota,Florida.

The call of duty has taken one of our finest officers. His loyalty, counsel and friendship will be sorely missed in the years to come by all who had the pleasure of knowing him. Ralph, at an early age, had the desire to become an Army officer. Perhaps the late Major Ralph Buffington, Ralph's father, gave his son the motivation for an Army career. Major Buffington was a member of the Veterinary Corps, Regular Army.

Buff was born at the Station Hospital, Fort Sam Houston, Texas, on September 16, 1926. His early years were spent on Army posts. But, due to the untimely death of Major Buffington, Ralph, with his mother, settled in Arlington, Virginia. Buff entered Sidwell Friends School in Washington, DC., where he graduated from the grammar school in 1939. At Sidwell Friends School Ralph began to amass the outstanding academic records that he maintained throughout his formal schooling. After two years of high school at Sidwell Friends. Buff entered New Mexico Military Institute in 1942. With his usual display of talent Ralph graduated second in his class at N.M.M.I. in June 1944.

Ralph next enrolled in Stanford University at Palo Alto, California, in September 1944. Here he remained for only three semesters, for be had secured his appointment to West Point in the summer of 1949 by attaining the highest mark in the examination held by his Congressman in the State of Virginia.

He entered the Military Academy on July 2. 1945 and set about adjusting himself to the rigors of the life of a Plebe. In this first year at West Point. Ralph made lifelong friends. All who knew him then can recall his unselfishness, thoughtfulness and uncanny ability to keep calm throughout any seemingly major crisis. These were unusual attributes for an immature plebe. However. Ralph Buffington had brought a mature mind to West Point. His advice was sought after by his classmates. As a member of L-2 Company, he contributed materially to all phases of cadet life. He was conspicuous in intramural football, lacrosse, soccer, and wrestling. Ralph belonged to the Skeet, Chess and Ski Clubs. However, he revealed his outstanding characteristic by his unselfish work in academic coaching. This work was detrimental to Ralph's own marks, since be most often coached underclassmen, but the satisfaction of helping others was enough inducement for him. Many men of L-2 owe their remaining at the Academy to his unselfish aid to them. Arnold Galiffa, All-American quarterback, was among the many cadets Ralph helped along.

A memorable event in Ralph's life occurred during the winter of 1946, for on Christmas leave of his Yearling year he met Barbara Jeanne Duquette of Sarasota, Florida. During Second and First Class years, Ralph and Barbara were constant companions. These were probably two of the happiest years Buff ever spent. The day after graduation this beautiful relationship was consummated with the marriage of Ralph and Barbara in the Cadet Chapel.

On June 7, 1949 Ralph graduated from the Academy and was commissioned in the Corps of Engineers. After a sixty-day leave the Buffingtons reported for duty at Fort Riley, Kansas. Here Buff attended the Officers Basic Course at the Ground General School. This training lasted through December. His next duty station was Fort Belvoir, Virginia. Here he attended the Basic Engineer Officers Course. Ralph graduated fifth in his class at Belvoir.

With this much of his Army schooling completed. Buff was assigned to Japan for duty. He was given a leave before reporting to Fort Mason, San Francisco, California, for overseas shipment. On this leave he visited his family in New York and began a motor trip to California. He and Barbara stopped off on the way and visited classmates and friends at Fort Sill and Enid, Oklahoma and in California.

Barbara and Ralph reached Yokohama, Japan, on July 8, 1950. With the Korean conflict in full swing, he was assigned to the 14th Engineer Combat Battalion of the 24th Division. On July 12 the 14th Engineer Combat Battalion left Japan for Korea.

On August 12, Ralph was lost to us. I say lost - only in body - because this true and faithful friend will remain in the minds of all of us who loved him. He can never be lost to those whose lives have become richer for having known him.

Goble W. Bryant

Personal Eulogy