Buck's Early Years

Buck was born to Dr. & Mrs Leonard Nippe on February 23, 1927 at Flower Hospital in Toledo, Ohio.  Buck's dad was an eye, ear, nose, & throat surgeon.  When Buck was born his dad was reading the biography of Frank James, Jessie's brother.  Frank had moved to Kentucky after Jessie was killed and had changed his name to Buck. Buck's mother, a house wife, didn't want two Leonards in the house so they started calling the baby Bucky.  That was 86 years ago.

Buck's Grandfather age 91

Buck's grandfather was born in Germany in 1860 .  He emigrated to the US through Ellis Island, probably in his twenties or thirties.  He went to Toledo, married, and opened his own business, a cleaning and dying business called the Persian Dye House.  In his later years he and Buck were good friends.  Granddaddy knew English well but he always preferred German whenever possible. 

Grade School and High school were good in Perrysburg, a suburb of Toledo.  Buck's favorite high school teacher was his math teacher.  He encouraged the students to work hard and plan to take the Ohio State High School math exam.  Buck and two classmates took the state exam and Buck scored second in the state, and his classmates scored fourth & ninth.  Paul Abke was a great teacher.

Buck flew his Dad's 5 place Stinson many times

While still in high school Buck took flying lessons and obtained his private and commercial licenses.  He has always thought that flying was one of his greatest and most enjoyable and relaxing activities.  


In 1944, during his senior year in high school Buck received a notice from the local draft board that he would be drafted on his 18th birthday in February.  Since Buck had his commercial pilot's license he talked to the Air Force but they wouldn't take him for pilot training because he wore glasses.  Then he talked to the Navy and they offered to let him finish high school and then take him in June and put him in electronics training. 

Hiroshima occurred while he was just finishing secondary radar school.  As a radar technician first class he was waiting for assignment to a ship when the navy was told to cut costs and he was offered an honorable discharge.  He took it and started his  college education at MIT.

Honorable Discharge - US Navy - World War II