On June 23, 2015, the Buffalo District held a special ceremony to name the latest addition to its high-tech hydrographic survey fleet after Command Sgt. Maj. Micheal L. Buxbaum, U.S. Army (Ret). The ceremony took place on the fantail of the cruiser USS Littlerock, which is moored at the Buffalo and Erie County Naval and Military Park, in Buffalo, New York. Guests included: Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works Jo-Ellen Darcy; Maj. Gen. Richard L. Stevens, Headquarters, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; Great Lakes and Ohio River Division Commander Brig. Gen. Richard G. Kaiser; Buffalo District Commander Lt. Col. Karl D. Jansen; Command Sgt. Maj. Antonio Jones; Command Sgt. Maj. Buxbaum's widow Roberta, her daughters Katie and Christina, and Buxbaum's parents, Donald and Barbara.
The Buxbaum will be a welcome addition to Buffalo District's hydrographic survey fleet, as the district area of responsibility serves some 38,000 square miles from Massena, New York, to the Indiana state line. Within that area are 16 commercial and 19 recreational harbors; five of the top 100 U.S. ports; 110 miles of federal navigation channels; 38 miles of piers, jetties and breakwaters, and 1,683 miles of shoreline.
According to Buffalo District survey chief Roman Figler, The Buxbaum will ramp-up Buffalo District's ability to support the navigation mission, which entails not only dredging of rivers and harbors, but also maintaining navigation structures. The Buxbaum is equipped with a state-of-the-art multi-beam sonar system and also a vessel mounted "LIDAR" (light detection and ranging) system. This gives her the capability to collect data in a terrestrial (static) and marine (mobile) mode of operation which allows the survey offshore breakwater structures from a moving vessel, with fewer field personnel required.
But the real story of The Buxbaum begins a long time ago.
According to Buxbaum's father Donald, from the time he was only six years old, Micheal never wanted to be anything but a Soldier. "That was his life's ambition. Never wanted anything else." He played with toy soldiers and admired his uncle, who was also a Soldier. This boyhood dream became a man's reality.
After graduating from Lincoln High School, Manitowac, Wisconsin, in 1978, he entered the Army on the "buddy program" with his best friend, Dale Hietpas.
In 1982, Buxbaum married the love of his life, Roberta (Bobby) Reiter. They shared a long and happy marriage full of worldwide adventures and a love for Harley Davidson motorcycles that was never more evident than by their regular participation in the American Legion Legacy Ride. Together, and with great joy, they raised two wonderful daughters, Katie and Christina.
During his 33 years as a Soldier, Buxbaum fought all over the world, including Operation Desert Storm, Operation Iraqi Freedom and, in Bosnia. He eventually became the 10th command sergeant major of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers--the highest rank an enlisted Soldier can achieve aside from Command Sergeant Major of the Army.
"It is fitting and appropriate that we honor the memory of Command Sgt. Maj. Buxbaum, a top-ranking noncommissioned officer, by placing his name on this boat," said Buffalo District Commander Lt. Col. Karl D. Jansen. "Noncommissioned officers are the backbone of our Army. They inspire disciplined and honorable service while taking care of those they lead. A few years ago, Buxbaum visited Buffalo District and made it his mission to get out into the field and meet with our surveyors and the crew members of our tugs and derrick boat, dedicated Americans who maintain the Great Lakes Navigation System -- which is the backbone of our nation's industrial might."
Though Command Sgt. Maj. Buxbaum retired from the Army in June 2012, he could not bring himself to give up serving his country. He returned to Afghanistan to work for a contractor whose mission was supporting deployed Soldiers. Buxbaum passed away in his sleep on November 9, 2013, while in Afghanistan.
"Mike went back because he wanted to," his father said. "He just wanted to be with his people."
That kind of says it all: "His people." As does the heraldic Buxbaum family motto in the pilot house of the boat: Virtute et Fidelitate, which translates as, "By Valor and Fidelity."
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