Lloyd M. Bucher

Lloyd M. Bucher was a United States Navy officer who commanded the intelligence collection vessel USS Pueblo (AGER-2) during its infamous capture by North Korea in 1968. His leadership during the subsequent eleven-month imprisonment and torture of his crew made him a controversial yet ultimately vindicated figure in United States military history. Bucher's steadfast, if unconventional, decisions under extreme duress sparked significant debate within the Department of Defense and the United States Congress. His later life was marked by his defense of his actions and his crew before official inquiries.

Early life and education

Lloyd Mark Bucher was born in Pocatello, Idaho, and spent much of his youth in Boise. He developed an early interest in the sea, which led him to enlist in the United States Navy in 1945 near the end of World War II. Following his enlistment, he received an appointment to the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, through the Fleet Reserve program. He graduated with the Class of 1953 and was commissioned as an ensign, embarking on a career that would span the Cold War and the Korean War.

Naval career

After commissioning, Bucher served on the destroyer USS Carmick (DD-493) and later qualified in submarine warfare. His early assignments included duty on the submarine USS Besugo (SS-321) and as an instructor at the Naval Submarine School in New London, Connecticut. He served as the executive officer of the submarine USS Ronquil (SS-396) and later commanded the submarine USS Greenfish (SS-351). In 1966, he was assigned to command the newly converted environmental research ship USS Pueblo (AGER-2), a vessel ostensibly used for oceanographic research but which was, in fact, engaged in signals intelligence operations.

USS Pueblo incident

On January 23, 1968, while conducting a surveillance mission in international waters off the coast of North Korea, USS Pueblo (AGER-2) was attacked and boarded by Korean People's Navy vessels and MiG-21 aircraft. Following a brief, one-sided engagement where one crewman was killed, Bucher surrendered the ship to prevent further loss of life. The vessel and its 82 surviving crew members were taken to Wonsan and then to Pyongyang, where they endured severe torture and psychological abuse at the hands of the Korean People's Army. Under extreme coercion, Bucher and his men were forced to sign false confessions and participate in propaganda films. Bucher’s decision to surrender his ship and later provide a false confession to preserve his crew became the central focus of subsequent military reviews.

Aftermath and later life

After their release on December 23, 1968, following protracted negotiations involving the United Nations Command and the Government of the United States, Bucher and his crew faced a formal Court of Inquiry at Naval Base Coronado. The United States Navy initially recommended Bucher be court-martialed for surrendering his ship without a fight, a decision that provoked outrage from the public and many in Congress. The Secretary of the Navy, John H. Chafee, ultimately overruled the recommendation, stating the men had "suffered enough." Bucher retired from the United States Navy in 1973 with the rank of commander. He later co-authored a book about the ordeal, *Bucher: My Story*, and lived in San Diego, California, until his death from heart failure in 2004.

Awards and decorations

For his actions during and after the USS Pueblo incident, Lloyd M. Bucher received several military honors. His awards include the Legion of Merit for his leadership while a prisoner of war, the Purple Heart for wounds received during the capture, and the Prisoner of War Medal. He also was entitled to the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Service Medal, and the United Nations Service Medal. In 1990, the Veterans of Foreign Wars presented him with their prestigious Armed Forces Award.

Category:United States Navy officers Category:American prisoners of war Category:1927 births Category:2004 deaths