buckley New York purple heart

[historical]

I was wondering if you might be able to help me find some information about my mother in law's uncle.  His name was Thomas Buckley and we think he was awarded a purple heart during his campaign in WW2, I have very little to go on only that he was from Ireland, Limerick county, she thinks it was around 1945 and remembers her fathers family showing her a picture of him placing the American flag into the ground in a newspaper article.  Its a very long shot but would love if you might be able to direct me in some way I would be very very grateful.  Her Father died just a couple of weeks ago, she is 73 yrs old I would love if I could find this information for her if at all possible, I believe he lived in New York

With kind regards
Historical

[shellyesq]

There is an army enlistment for a Thomas P. Buckley born 1908 in the Irish Free State and residing in New York, New York.  He enlisted as a private on 23 Jun. 1942 at Fort Jay, Governors Island, New York.  He had a grammar school education.  His occupation was stock clerk.  He was single without dependents.  He was 68 inches tall and 160 pounds.  Does that sound like it might be him?

There is a list of casualties in WWII from the Navy, Marines, and Coast Guard from New York here:  http://www.archives.gov/research/arc/ww2/navy-casualties/new-york.html#info  #89 has a Buckley on it, but it's not Thomas, so it looks like he's not on there.  So, maybe it's more likely that he was in the Army.

Do you have any information about Thomas' parents or other members of his family?