Captain Phil H. Bucklew - A Lifetime of Service
The mission of the Xavier University Veteran and Military Family Center is to provide personalized world-class support to enhance the educational experience of Veterans and military-affiliated students that results in unconditional success in the classroom and beyond. In direct support of that mission, we are honoring retired Navy Captain, Phil Bucklew, a 1936 graduate of Xavier University (see below for a brief synopsis of CAPT Bucklew’s lifetime accomplishments). We have a goal to raise $5 million dollars over the next three years that will allow the Xavier Veteran and Military Family Center to operate in perpetuity. To donate, please click the link below. Thank you!
Captain Phil H. Bucklew (U.S. Navy, Retired)
A Lifetime of Service
- Football and Basketball star at Xavier, 1932-1936
- Student Council President as a Junior and member of the Glee Club
- XU Athletic Director and Head Football Coach ‘46
- Professional Football Player for Cleveland Rams ’37-’38; and founded and coached the Columbus Bullies ’39-’41 (AFL Champions ’40 and ’41).
- Navy Reserve ’30-’36, ’46-‘48
- Active Navy ’42-’46, ’48-‘69
- Founding member of the Naval Special Warfare Group 1 (Navy SEALs); US Navy Scouts and Raiders and Underwater Demolitions Teams. He is commonly referred to as the “Father of Naval Special Warfare” (Navy SEALs)
- Awarded two Navy Crosses for beach reconnaissance prior to D-Day (Operation Overlord) in Normandy France and Operation Husky, in Sicily. Also awarded a Silver Star and Bronze Star. Conducted covert Omaha Beach reconnaissance in February 1944.
- Served in WWII, Korea and Viet Nam.
- The Center for Naval Special Warfare in Coronado, California is named in his honor.
- He is a 2016 inductee into the Ohio Military Hall of Fame.
- Died and was buried at Arlington National Cemetery in 1992