Eureka man served with Pueblo commander
Saturday, January 31, 2004 - Stu Russell remembers former Cmdr. Bucher, who died Wednesday
Andrew Bird
The Times-Standard
EUREKA -- The death on Wednesday of Lloyd "Pete" Bucher in Southern California has dredged up 35-year-old nightmares of one of the Cold War's most notorious incidents for Stu Russell.
Bucher, pronounced like "Booker," was commander of the USS Pueblo when the spy ship was captured by North Korea in 1968 and helped his crew survive nearly a year of abuse in captivity only to nearly face a court-martial.
Russell, a Eureka resident for more than 20 years, was a member of that crew.
The Pueblo, armed only with two .50-caliber machine guns in poor condition and hand-held firearms, was monitoring communist ship movements and intercepting messages in international waters near the North Korean coast when it was attacked by torpedo boats Jan. 23, 1968.
One sailor was killed and 82 were taken prisoner. Bucher, who was wounded when the Pueblo was shelled, was beaten and tortured into signing a confession. During their captivity, crewmembers were beaten with pieces of lumber, burned on radiators and had their teeth kicked out by North Korean soldiers.
"I haven't had a nightmare since last night," Russell said Friday. "There are three of them -- it's like watching an old movie over and over again. They're still robbing me of my sleep, but they don't terrify me anymore."
Bucher defied his captors while making them believe he was complacent and conciliatory, and kept the morale of his crew high with his outrageous sense of humor, Russell said, recalling the 11 months in the hands of the North Koreans.
But Bucher's influence didn't stop when the crew was suddenly released a few days before Christmas in 1968.
He served as a father figure for crew members -- a band of brothers of sorts for the past 3 1/2 decades -- right up until his death Wednesday at age 76.
Russell serves as president of the USS Pueblo Veterans Association, maintaining the group's website from the Lundbar Hills home he shares with his wife, Sharon, who has her own memories of the incident.
"The wives are active also," said Sharon, who said "yes" to Stu's marriage proposal before he shipped out on the Pueblo in late 1967 and never gave up hope during his internment.
The couple married in January 1969, as soon as they could after Stu came home. They celebrated their 35th anniversary a few weeks ago.
The Russells remained close to Bucher and his wife, Rose, over the years.
The Buchers have visited Humboldt County from time to time, including a speech the former commander made a few years back to the Rotary Club of South West Eureka.
The Russells' three grandchildren -- Brooke, Riley and Jory -- call the Buchers "grandpa Pete and grandma Rose," Sharon said.
Friday morning the Russells were busy answering calls from other Pueblo crew members and the media.
The Associated Press and CNN had called the day before.
They were also making travel plans. A funeral with full military honors is scheduled for Bucher at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery in San Diego on Tuesday.
The North Coast became home for two other Pueblo crewmembers.
John A. Mitchell lives in Kneeland.
Howard E. Bland lived in Leggett until his death in 1992.