Their Story
Mark Edward Buda was born in Manistee, Michigan on June 26, 1981, the son of Edward G. Buda and Colleen Weaver Buda.[1] Edward and Colleen divorced while Mark was young, and Edward and Mark moved to the Chicago, Illinois area.[2]
Mark attended Lake Park High School, in Roselle, Illinois. [3]
Mark enlisted in the US Navy Seabees in 1999, after graduating High School. Mark’s Dad told me he wanted to be a Seabee from an early age. Mark Served in the Persian Gulf, Iraq, and Afghanistan Wars, attaining the Rate of EO2 or Equipment Operator Petty Officer 2nd Class[4]. Naval personnel have a Rate instead of a Rank like the Army.
The use of the word “rank” for Navy enlisted personnel is incorrect. A “rate” is a combination of pay grade and rating (specialty).[5]
Mark was injured in Afghanistan, while parachuting into a work site. He Injured his legs and feet and received a Medical Discharge.[6]
After his discharge from the Navy, Mark began working for KBR Inc in 2005.[7] KBR, Inc. (formerly Kellogg Brown & Root) is a U.S. based company, operating in fields of science, technology, and engineering. Kellog, Brown and Root Inc, was primarily working on projects for the US Military in Afghanistan. Mark loved his Navy Career and KBR gave him the opportunity to continue that type of work after leaving the Navy. He was an Airfield Surface Foreman at KBR for 15 years.[8]
Mark wanted a change after 15 years with KBR[1] and applied and got a position with Union Pacific Railroad in September 2018, as Signalman. He worked for Union Pacific until 2021, when he decided to attend the University of Omaha Nebraska.
Mark was taken to “Valhalla”, as his friend described his passing, on May 29, 2021. Mark had many friends in the Chicago Illinois area, so the family chose to have Mark interned at The Rock Island National Cemetery.[2]
[1] IBID
[2] Find a Grave, database, and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/229034640/mark-edward-buda: accessed 4 April 2023)
[1] Telephone and Email Interviews Linda Slyvester (Mark’ Aunt) April 7 to April 24, 2023
[2] IBID
[3] Lake Park High School Alumni List by Year Website http://lakeparkhighschool.net/alumni-list-b.html, Accessed, April 212023
[4]Wikipedia “Rate Insignia of Navy Enlisted Personnel”. Navy.mil. The United States Navy. Retrieved 2 May 2012. Accessed April 4, 2023
[5] Rate, Ranks, and Insignias, The Department of Defense, Naval Services FamilyLine, https://www.nsfamilyline.org/rate-rank-insignias, accessed April 25, 2023
[6] Telephone and Email Interviews Edward G. Buda (Marks Father)
[7] Facebook. Buda, Mark Edward. Personal Facebook Page, “Intro Information” Accessed April 17, 2023
[8] Telephone and Email Interview Edward G. Buda (Marks Father) April 10, 2023
References
