“We had 480 acres of continuous corn,” said Buehler, “plus we fed cattle and farrow-to-finish hogs.”

Roger has been married to his wife Ellen for 38 years; the couple have three adult children: Bradley, Abby, and Barry.

“Roger’s parents were leaders,” said Ellen Buehler. “They were strong farmers, volunteers, and involved in the community in many ways. Their boys were raised by leaders and became leaders themselves.”

Roger attended Iowa State University, graduating with a degree in farm operations in 1966.

-Submitted photo
-Submitted photo Ellen and Roger Buehler are shown here at a United States Marine Corps reception in Washington, D.C. It was his family's present to him for his 80th birthday.

“I walked across the stage holding my diploma in one hand,” said Buehler, “and it seems like I immediately had my draft notice in the other hand. I had to do something by April 1, and I chose to enter the Marine Corps. A lot of people ask me why, and the only thing I could come up with is a question in return: If you went out for football, did you go out with the idea of sitting on the bench?”

Buehler was in the Marine Corps from Oct. 10, 1966, to June 15, 1970, as a 2nd Lieutenant in Artillery.

He attended Officer Candidate School (OCS); his platoon had 50 college graduates to begin and only 28 graduated as officers. “Can you imagine all of those type-A personalities from every state in the union?” said Buehler. “We were sharp people with a great sense of humor.”

Raised as a leader, Roger was not going to sit on the bench during the Vietnam War.

“If there was a parade, I’d walk the other way,” said Roger Buehler. “I hate parades. I belonged in the field with the other guys. I was a forward observer calling artillery for the infantry. Most of the officers rotated to the rear after six months in Vietnam, and I was still in front at nine and a half months.”

-Submitted photo
Roger Buehler served in the United States Marine Corps during the Vietnam War. This photo was taken at Hill 37 in Vietnam.

Buehler reported for his tour in Vietnam on Sept. 1, 1967. His tour lasted 12 months and 29 days.

“There were 14 artillery officers on my flight going to Vietnam,” said Buehler. “Four of us were killed, and four were badly wounded. At the end of September of ’68, only six of us showed up for the flight back home.

“It was a long time to be in that environment. We were part of Operation Allen Brook. I was in the same clothes for 42 days, and I got the creeping crud. It was hot. You don’t feel motivated to eat too much. I went from 190 pounds to 150 pounds and earned the nickname ‘Bones Buehler.'” Buehler’s favorite C-ration was chopped chicken; his least favorite was spaghetti and meatballs.

Buehler left his tour in Vietnam in September of 1968 hoping that he did his best to save the most soldiers.

“I felt guilty at leaving my position, knowing that some poor soul was going to have to learn the same things I learned,” said Buehler. “I made it out, and it became obvious that someone had a greater plan for me.

“I could walk into a s——- and come out in one piece. I was shot at by snipers and heard the bullets go by my ear. If a soldier was wounded once, he had a 50% chance of getting shot again; I was never wounded. I had a friend, Big John, who got hit twice with machine gun rounds; he was 230 pounds, and it spun him around, and he went down quick. Being shot wasn’t like the Hollywood version.”

Buehler credits his wife Ellen for helping him process the memories.

“It helps to have a partner who is a good listener,” said Buehler.

After Buehler’s tour in Vietnam, he was sent to 2nd Marine Division at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. In most cases, he was deployed to the Caribbean.

“I even extended my service another six months to finish in the Caribbean,” said Buehler. “There was no sense in coming back to Iowa in the middle of the winter.”

Buehler was 29 when he returned to Iowa, refamiliarizing himself with life as a farmer.

“My brother Duane and I farmed with Dad,” said Buehler. “Dad passed away in 1992. Now my son Barry is part of Buehler Farms.”

Buehler’s work on the family farm has always focused on livestock. “We have more acres now for corn and beans,” said Buehler, who serves on the Sac County Soil Conservation Board as a commissioner, “but I’ve never planted corn. I ran a combine for maybe eight hours of my life. I’ve never cultivated more than one or two days in my life.

“I’m the cattle guy. I enjoy raising, caring for, and selling cattle. We’ve had the same buyer and trucker for years. It’s a great family operation.”

Buehler manages just under a thousand head of cattle.

“I’ve enjoyed being my own boss,” said Buehler, who at 80 still feeds his cattle daily. “I enjoy creating a plan and executing it. I got tumbled by a big heifer a couple years back, so I’m doing my best to keep a step ahead of them.”