Marine Cpl. Adam J. Buyes, 21, of Salem, Ore.
Cpl. Buyes was assigned to 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, Okinawa, Japan; died Nov. 26, 2011 in Helmand province, Afghanistan, while conducting combat operations.
Cpl Buyes, a field radio operator, was killed while on foot patrol. He was the 31st from Oregon to die in Afghanistan.
Cpl Buyes graduated from McKay High School in 2008, where he participated football and track and field, and also was a member of the bowling club.
Cpl Buyes joined the Marines in January 2009. He deplyed in May. This was his first deployment. He was due to return to Okinawa the following week and, according to his father, had purchased an airline ticket to fly home Dec. 22.
Brother, Joshua, who is also in the Marines, returned from deployment to Afghanistan three weeks prior.
Father, Mike Buyes, last spoke to his son was on Thanksgiving. "He really wanted to be with us," his dad said.
Teacher, Cathy Sparks, had Buyes in her French class as a freshman. “I remember he tried super hard and had fun, but French really wasn’t his thing."
Sparks also had Buyes for three years in her advisory class. She said he stood out in that class, which a lot of students find a way to skip, because “he always came.”
“He was kind of quiet, but outgoing with people he knew,” Sparks said. “He was probably different on the football team.”
McKay High School football coach, Jay Minyard, last saw Adam this past spring when Adam spent a day at his alma mater while on military leave, having lunch with his former coach and hanging out in the weight room, where his name is etched on the record boards. Buyes is among the all-time leaders in the 300-pound bench press and the 275-pound incline.
“He was in here working out with some of the kids, showing them some things he’s learned in the Marine Corps,” Minyard said. “He was definitely in really good shape. It was kind of one of those deals where he really missed us and kind of felt compelled to give back a little bit.”
“He was proud to be a Marine and to serve his country,” Minyard said. “And we were all really proud of him. He was one of McKay’s finest.”
"Cpl. Adam Buyes was a truly dedicated professional who cared for his Marines as if they were brothers from the beginning," said battalion 1st Sgt. Daniel J. Wilson.
"He was often emulated and adored by many of the Marines he came in contact with. Cpl. Buyes was just one of those Marines that made being in Okinawa, Japan, or deployed to Afghanistan better and more enjoyable for everyone."
Cpl Buyes' awards and decorations include:
Combat Action Ribbon
National Defense Service Medal
Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation
Afghanistan Campaign Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Korean Defense Service Medal
Cpl Buyes is survived by his parents, Carla and Michael; siblings, Rachel, Anthony, Joshua and Tyler; grandparents Murry and Carol Newton.
Marine Cpl. Adam J. Buyes was killed in action on 11/26/11.
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