Bickford E. Sawyer

West Point, 1945

Be Thou At Peace

Posted by Nell C.Sawyer on January 4, 2018:

Posted On March 13th, 2017 - Honolulu Star-Advertiser Obituaries Share Bickford Retired Army Colonel Bickford "Buzz" E. Sawyer, Jr. was a special man. He meant the world to his wife of 50 years, Nelle Cecilia, and five children, David, (who predeceased him), Stephen, and Lynn Sawyer; and Margaret and Mark Larkin, and eight grandchildren. He was born in Maulden, Mass., on Oct. 17, 1922, to Grace and Bickford E. Sawyer, Sr. He graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School in Washington D.C. and accepted an appointment to the United States Military Academy. He graduated in 1945 and was commissioned as an Infantry second lieutenant. His first assignment was to the 11th Airborne in post-war Japan. From Japan, he transferred to Ft. Lewis, WA. His unit, the 23rd Inf., deployed to the front lines in Korea, where he earned a Silver Star, a Bronze Star, the French Croix de Guerre, and the nickname "Buzz". Although a hero, he remained an unassuming man, dedicated to his family and country. Following Korea, he completed advanced infantry training at Ft. Benning, Ga, the Command and General Staff College at Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas, and earned a Master's Degree in journalism at the University of Missouri. Buzz also served as a military assistant to the Secretary of the Army, at the Armed Forces Staff College, and at Headquarters, U.S. Army, Europe in Germany. He then served in the Army's Chief of Information office at the Pentagon, where he met and married Nelle. Buzz attended the Industrial College of the Armed Forces before volunteering for Vietnam. After his tour in Vietnam, he finished his career as the Chief of Information for U.S. Army, Pacific, at Fort Shafter, retiring after 30 years of active duty service. He then worked as the Director of Federal Grants for the city of Ft. Lauderdale, FL. Once he fully retired, he and Nelle returned to Honolulu, where he was very active in his Kalanilki community. Buzz was a devoted husband, father, and a dear friend to all who knew him. He was a member of the West Point Society, the Outrigger Canoe Club, and the Holy Nativity Episcopal Church. Memorial Services will be held at Holy Nativity on Thursday, March 16, at 10:30 a.m.

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