Buckley and four other men were buried in a mattress cover in the Catholic Cemetery in Saerbeck, Germany. Buckley was reported missing in action along with his crew members on October 10, 1943. Three years later in 1946, US military officials uncovered his body along with the four other men that were buried with him. His status was changed from PDD (presumed date of death) to killed in action. Officials reported that multiple bones were broken and his body was in an advanced state of decomposition.
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The military contacted Mrs. Buckley, his parents, and his niece to inform of William's death. Buckley's wife wanted him to be buried in Europe, but his parents wanted his remains shipped back to Mississippi to be buried next to his daughter's grave. The military honored Mrs. Buckley's wishes and he was buried in to Plot Q, Row 3, Grave 58 in United States Military Cemetery in Neuville-en-Condroz, Belgium.
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