William Arnold Buckman, aged 21, was born on September 4, 1922 in Havana, Yell County, Arkansas. He was inducted into the army upon completion of high school there in 1942. He received his training at Keelson Field, Miss. at Will Run, Michigan and at Harlingen field, where he received his aerial gunner's wings. He was sent to India in February of 1944 and to China in April. He was killed in action in Yunnan, China on June 13, 1944 and is now buried in the Havana Cemetery, Havana, Yell County, Arkansas, USA. William was one of over 2000 Americans who lost their lives defending China from their Japanese invaders from 1941-1945. He is commemorated on the The Monument to the Aviation Martyrs in the War of Resistance Against Japan in Nanjing, China.