Herman William Buck was born at Richmond Hill, Queens County, New York, on December 20, 1920. His family called him Buddy. His parents were Charles Frank Buck (2 May 1880 – 18 Jun 1925), who was born in Germany and immigrated to America about 1904; and Margaret Dorothy (Mueller) Buck (1889 – 1953), who was born in Germany (year of immigration uncertain). His father was a confectioner who owned and operated his own business. His father died when Herman was four years old.

He had a brother, Frederick John Buck (6 Dec 1918 – 1 Mar 1993). His mother's sister, Katherine D. Mueller (abt 1894 – unk), was single and lived with the family from about 1920 to 1930. By April 1930 the family lived at 8308 94th Street, Woodhaven, Queens County, New York, his home of record.

He completed four years of high school, and registered for the draft at Woodhaven, Queens, New York on February 15, 1942. He was 5 feet 9 inches tall, weighed 150 pounds, and had gray eyes and brown hair. At that time he was employed by Commercial Union Assurance Company at 123 William Street in Manhattan, New York City. He worked as an office clerk and was single when he enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps at New York City on September 19, 1942.

He completed Army Air Forces aerial gunnery school, and was assigned as ball turret gunner on the heavy bomber crew of Lt James A. Logan in the 836th Bomb Squadron of the 487th Bomb Group. This Group was based at Army Air Forces Station 137, near Lavenham, Suffolk, England, and was part of the 8th U.S. Army Air Force in Europe.

On July 2, 1944 the 487th Bomb Group dispatched two squadrons of B-24s to bomb the German V-weapon site at Belloy-sur-Somme, France, northwest of Amiens near the River Somme. Lt Logan's crew flew B-24H 42-52609 on this mission. On the return route, S/Sgt Buck and five of his crewmates were killed in action when their aircraft was shot down by flak in the area of Bethune-St. Pol, France. After the aircraft was hit and on fire, Lt Logan pulled up to avoid colliding with another aircraft in the formation. This was B-24H 42-52766 'Sammy's Niece' with the crew of Lt Joseph P. Peyton aboard. Lt Logan's selfless act saved the Peyton crew; then his aircraft broke up and went down in flames. It crashed 3.5 kilometers west of Saint-Pol-sur-Ternoise, and 2 kilometers east of Siracourt, in the vicinity of 50.373°N, 2.291°E. Three men survived and became prisoners of war.

S/Sgt Buck was buried initially at Evreux, France. After the war, his remains were reinterred at Normandy American Cemetery in Colleville-sur-Mer, France.

B-24H 42-52609 crew:
• Logan, James A – 2/Lt – Pilot – KIA
• Matika, Bruno – 2/Lt – Copilot – KIA
• Doran, Harry LeRoy – 2/Lt – Navigator – POW
• Greer, George Hubert – T/Sgt – Engineer – POW
• Johnson, William T – S/Sgt – Radio Operator – KIA
• Pellizzer, Louis – S/Sgt – Nose Turret Gunner – KIA
• Wilson, Max W – S/Sgt – Upper Turret Gunner – KIA
• Buck, Herman W – S/Sgt – Ball Turret Gunner – KIA
• Ross, John Finlay – S/Sgt – Tail Turret Gunner – POW

Source of information: Paul M. Webber, www.findagrave.com