Simon Bolivar Buckner Jr. was a United States Army officer and a general during World War II. Born on April 1, 1886, in Fort Knox, Kentucky, he graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1908. Buckner served in various capacities, including as a commander in the Pacific Theater, where he played a significant role in the Battle of Okinawa. He was the son of Simon Bolivar Buckner Sr., a Confederate general during the American Civil War. Buckner Jr. was known for his leadership skills and strategic planning. He passed away on June 18, 1945, during the Okinawa campaign, making him one of the highest-ranking U.S. officers killed in action during the war.