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Buford E.
Cooper (deceased) was a Lieutenant in the U.S. Army Engineering company, serving in the
Burma-China Road in World War II. He was
killed in action.
{The Daily Journal, St. Francois Co.,
Wednesday, April 26, 1995}
MEMORIAL SERVICES HELD SUNDAY
FOR LIEUT. BUFORD COOPER
Services were conducted Sunday afternoon, May 20, at the Leadwood Baptist Church in
memory of Lt. Buford Cooper, who made the supreme sacrifice for his country on September
26, 1944, while serving with the Army Engineers on the Burma-Ledo Road.
The services were conducted by Rev. A. A. Braungardt, pastor of the Leadwood Baptist
Church, assisted by Rev. Claude Carl, pastor of the Leadwood Church of God.
The American Legion and War Dads of both Leadwood and Flat River attended in a body.
The Boy Scouts were also represented.
In the front of the church was a floral piece made of yellow roses in the form of the
Engineers Insignia, on top of which was placed a photograph of Lt. Cooper. There were
other beautiful floral offerings. Hymns were sung by the mixed choir and the Church of God
quartet.
Buford Edwin Cooper was born near Steelville, Missouri on April 13, 1918, the son of
Jerry and Edith Cooper. He was converted at the age of twelve and united with the Leadwood
Baptist Church of which he was a member at the time of his death. He attended the Leadwood
schools and graduated with the class of 1937. He was employed by the St. Joseph Lead
Company until his induction into the Army on July 6, 1942, at Jefferson Barracks.
He took his basic training at Fort Leonard Wood. On March 3, 1943, he was commissioned
Second Lieutenant in the Corps of Engineers at Fort Belvoir, Virginia. From Camp
Claiborne, Louisiana he was sent overseas in May, 1943. He spent a short time in India
before being transferred to China where he worked with the Engineers who constructed the
Burma-Ledo Road. While there he was promoted to First Lieutenant. On September 26, 1944,
he was killed in a motor vehicle accident between Siakwan and Yunnonnyi, China.
On October 3, 1942, he was united in marriage to Miss Elsie Banks of Leadwood, who
survives. Also surviving are the parents, four brothers, Albert of Frankclay, Virgil of
Leadwood and Donald at home, and Jerry, Jr., of the U.S. Navy, serving in the Pacific
Area. Also three sisters, Edith, Thelma and Lawanna all at home.
Buford was an ideal young man morally and socially, and was outstanding in his
religious convictions and practices of a Christian life. Death to him meant an honorable
discharge from two wars, one materially and the other spiritually.
Published by the LEAD BELT NEWS, Flat River, St. Francois Co. MO, Fri. May 25, 1945.
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