Seaman Robert Elden Buchanan

Early Life

Robert Buchanan was born on June 2, 1934, in Haywood County, North Carolina, to Clarence and Bessie Buchanan. Growing up in Hazelwood alongside his siblings, Charles and Dorothy, Robert was shaped by a strong sense of family and faith. 

He attended Waynesville Township High School through eleventh grade, and worked part time in a sporting goods retail store where he wrapped purchases, collected cash, and restocked shelves. Robert enjoyed playing basketball, building model planes, and working on automobiles. 

One June 20, 1951, Robert enlisted in the U.S. Navy at the age of 17.

Homefront

Haywood County, established in 1808, is the third-largest county in Western North Carolina, with a population of 57,000. It includes the towns of Canton, Clyde, Maggie Valley, and Waynesville, with Waynesville serving as the county seat. The area has been recognized for its natural beauty and charm. 

During World War II and the Korean War, the Dayton Rubber Company in Hazelwood produced vital materials for the defense effort. Additionally, Haywood County participated in the 1942 scrap metal drive, where local schools and communities collected materials to support the war. The county also underwent significant change in the 1950s with the construction of Interstate 40, which promised lasting economic growth. 

Overall, Haywood County’s history reflects contributions to national efforts, economic changes, and struggles for racial equality, all of which have shaped the community over time.

Military Experience

Robert Buchanan enlisted in the U.S. Navy on June 20, 1951, in Columbia, South Carolina. He completed training at the Naval Training Center in San Diego, California.

Following training, Buchanan joined the crew of the USS LST 827 on December 31, 1951. LST stands for “landing ship, tank” and is a vessel designed to carry tanks, vehicles, troops, and equipment. LSTs can land directly on beaches, bypassing the need for a port. Aboard this ship he crossed the international date line (a sailing tradition) on March 28, 1952, and was promoted to seaman a few days later on April 1, 1952. The ship supplied equipment and material to the Korean peninsula in July and August 1952. 

On September 30, 1952, Buchanan transferred to the USS LST 1068, where he served until May 26, 1955. LST 1068 performed extensive service during the Korean War. Re-christened the Orange County on July 1, 1955, the ship earned four battle stars during the Korean War. 

In 1952, the ship landed troops and supplies and moved prisoners to and from operations at Sokchori, Koje-do, and Wonsan. The ship also made frequent trips to Pusan, Cho-do, and Yokosuka, Japan.

In December 1953, Buchanan completed his GED while serving in the Navy.

LST-1068 returned to San Diego in the fall of 1954. In total, Buchanan served three years, six months, and 25 days overseas. 

Buchanan shared specific memories from his time in Korea with his family, such as loading a cannon on a ship with a team of four men and working in close quarters. He described the difficult process of transporting wounded soldiers from the islands to ships, many of whom did not survive the journey. In addition to the emotional and physical toll, he spoke about the harsh realities of life on the ship, including the need to wash his clothes due to bloodstains. Despite the challenges, he conveyed a deep sense of pride in serving. He also described his combat experiences, which included fighting overnight from ships and launching bombs. 

Robert Buchanan rarely spoke about his experience in the war, but his actions spoke volumes. Serving aboard a LST, he held an admirable position where he and his crew risked their lives to retrieve wounded soldiers, thereby saving countless lives. His bravery and tireless efforts earned him several medals, including the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Service Medal, and the United Nations Service Medal, each a testament to his sacrifices and dedication. The courage and selflessness he demonstrated in his service reflect the heart and character of Bobby Buchanan. His legacy as a hero and as a man of honor will never be forgotten.

Veteran Experience

Mr. Buchanan spent most of his life in Western North Carolina. After serving in Korea, he married Tamara Sue Ward in 1956. He worked for several years at Champion Paper Mill in Canton, North Carolina, before answering the call to ministry. He then moved to Greenville, South Carolina, where he attended Tabernacle Baptist Bible Institute. 

After graduating, he founded and pastored North Asheville Baptist Church for many years. Robert and Tamara divorced in 1980. Later, he married Sharon Buchanan and briefly pastored a few more churches before transitioning into business, working alongside his father at Log Cabin Antiques in Waynesville and operating a car dealership. He had three children, Cindy, Roger, and Anita.

Commemoration

Robert Elden Buchanan died on March 19, 2024. He rests at the Western Carolina State Veteran Cemetery in Black Mountain, North Carolina.

Bibliography

Primary Sources

Buchanan Family Records. 1950-1990. Courtesy of Anita Lyda.

Champion Fibre Company mill in operation. Photograph. 1908. Southern Appalachian Digital Collections, Western Carolina Univeristy (HL_MSS21-01_01_08_073). southernappalachiandigitalcollections.org/browse/search/champion-fibre-company-mill-in-operation/search/keyword:champion-paper-mill-56806. 

“Dorothy Jean Buchanan.” Crawford Ray Funeral Home. Accessed October 24, 2024. https://crawfordray.com/obituaries/dorothy-jean-buchanan-stevenson.

Lyda, Anita. Telephone interview with author. January 28, 2025.

North Carolina. Haywood County. 1950 U.S. Census. Digital images. http://ancestryclassroom.com.

Robert Buchanan and Tamara Ward. North Carolina, U.S., Marriage Records, 1741-2011. https://ancestryclassroom.com. 

“Robert Elden Buchanan.” Asheville Citizens Times [Asheville, NC], March 21, 2024. https://www.citizen-times.com/obituaries/pgsc0762962. 

Robert Elden Buchanan, Official Military Personnel File, Department of the Navy, National Archives and Records Administration – St. Louis.

Secondary Sources

“Cynthia ‘Cindy’ Buchanan Frizsell.” Find a Grave. Updated August 15, 2009. Accessed October 21, 2024. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/40704776/cynthia-frizsell. 

“Early Leaders Altered Haywood’s History.” The Mountaineer [Waynesville, NC], January 6, 2013.

“Fast Facts About Haywood County.” Haywood County, North Carolina. Accessed November 7, 2024. https://www.haywoodcountync.gov/351/Fast-Facts-About-Haywood-County.

“Haywood County.” Mountainwise. Accessed November 7, 2024. https://mountainwise.org/haywood/.

“How Haywood County Rallied To the Cause during WWII Scrap Metal Drive.” The Mountaineer [Waynesville, NC], November 6, 2023. https://www.themountaineer.com/news/how-haywood-county-rallied-to-the-cause-during-wwii-scrap-metal-drive/article_26a29da4-7a49-11ee-a053-f7648d8357a9.html.

Hyatt, Vicki. “The Early History of the Pigeon River Road (I-40) in Haywood County.” The Mountaineer, May 25, 2017. https://www.themountaineer.com/news/the-early-history-of-the-pigeon-river-road-i-40-in-haywood-county/article_f210c81b-4fdf-56fc-b499-a603ea8770a6.html.  

Knoepp, Lilly. “Haywood County Black School Celebrates National Register of Historic Places Designation.” Blue Ridge Public Radio. Updated May 2, 2023. Accessed November 8, 2024. https://www.bpr.org/bpr-news/2023-05-02/haywood-county-black-school-celebrates-national-register-of-historic-places-designation.

“LST 1068.” Naval History and Heritage Command. Accessed January 28, 2025. https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/l/lst-1068.html.

Neufeld, Rob. “Portraits of the Past: Dayton Rubber’s Waynesville Plant.” The Asheville Citizen Times [Asheville, NC] June 30, 2016. https://www.citizen-times.com/story/life/2016/06/30/portraits-past-dayton-rubbers-waynesville-plant/86301816/.  

“Portraits of the Past: Dayton Rubber’s Waynesville Plant. Citizen Times [Asheville, NC], June 30, 2016. https://www.citizen-times.com/story/life/2016/06/30/portraits-past-dayton-rubbers-waynesville-plant/86301816/.

“Primary Source: Report on 4-H Club Contributions to the War Effort.” Anchor, A North Carolina Online Resource. Accessed November 6, 2024. https://www.ncpedia.org/anchor/primary-source-report-4-h.

“Reynolds School.” Haywood Snapshot Project. Accessed November 7, 2024. https://www.haywoodsnapshotproject.com/reynolds-school.

“Rev. Robert Elden ‘Bobby’ Buchanan.” Find a Grave. Updated April 4, 2024. Accessed October 15, 2024. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/269050284/robert-elden-buchanan.

“Robert Elden Buchanan.” Veterans Legacy Memorial, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Accessed October 22, 2024. https://www.vlm.cem.va.gov/ROBERTELDENBUCHANAN/570577. 

“Robert Elden Buchanan.” Citizen Times, March 21, 2024. https://www.citizen-times.com/obituaries/pgsc0762962. 

“USS Hillsborough County (LST-827)” NavSource. Accessed April 7, 2025. https://www.navsource.org/archives/10/16/160827.htm.

This profile was funded by a grant from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. The opinions, findings, and conclusions stated herein are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs.