Harold Buckley was born on April 4, 1896, in Westfield, Massachusetts. He joined the American Ambulance Service in France in March 1917, and enlisted in the Aviation Section of the U.S. Army Signal Corps for flying training in August 1917. After training at Tours, Issoudun, and Cazeoux, France, Buckley was commissioned a 1st Lt and awarded his pilot wings on December 12, 1917. He was assigned to the 95th Aero Squadron of the 1st Pursuit Group in March 1918, and was credited with the destruction of 5 enemy aircraft in aerial combat before the war ended. Capt Buckley returned to the U.S. in March 1919, and left active duty the same month. He died on June 13, 1958.

His 1st (of 2) Distinguished Service Cross Citation reads:

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Harold Robert Buckley, First Lieutenant (Air Service), U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action near Perle, France, August 10, 1918. Lieutenant Buckley was on a patrol protecting a French biplane observation machine, when they were suddenly set upon by six enemy planes. Lieutenant Buckley attacked and destroyed the nearest, and the remainder fled into their own territory. He then carried on with his mission until he had escorted the allied plane safely to its own aerodrome.