Support Derek Buckles' Memorial and Wounded Warriors

My name is Alan Buckles. My son, Derek Alan Buckles, recently passed away at the age of 42. He was a 6-year veteran of the Mississippi National Guard, his MOS was a medic, which shows his love for others and the self-sacrifice. His first deployment was in Pakistan in 2000. He served at a forward base with Air Force PJ’s. His mission was to ride in air transport to drop off and retrieve PJ’s. During one mission, the PJ’s were all wounded and he had to treat several mortally wounded. He kept all alive by himself. He was submitted for a Bronze Star but was turned down.

He was deployed in Iraq 4 years later and was wounded in an RPG explosion while trying to get to several wounded soldiers. He was diagnosed with a TBI and when he returned home, he was never the same. He spiraled into a world of drug use. He went through numerous stints in rehabilitation and recovery programs, but they were not successful. He worked in the oilfield industry and was never successful due to his demons. He died with no money and was not able to pay for his funeral. I paid for it which came to 4000 dollars.

He has a brother in the Army now who is stationed in North Carolina and needs help getting to his service where Derek will be put to rest in the National Cemetery in Natchez, MS. The money collected above the funeral expenses will go to Wounded Warriors. 4000 dollars for funeral anything above to wounded warriors