Recently, approximately 100 people attended the re-dedication of a memorial dedicated to Tumwater-native, longtime South Bend resident and World War II Medal of Honor recipient Bob Bush. American Legion Post 150 presented the colors.
The memorial was originally erected in a park named for him in 1998. South Bend Mayor Julie Struck credited Patrick and Tim Quigg for their tireless efforts to update the memorial that was first dedicated 27 years earlier.
Bush became the youngest sailor in WWII to earn the Medal of Honor for his actions as a hospital apprentice first class with the 3rd Platoon, Company G, 2nd Battalion, 5th US Marines, on May 2, 1945, during the Battle of Okinawa, Ryukyu Islands, Japan. President Harry S. Truman presented the medal to Bush at the White House on Oct. 5, 1945.
Bush’s Medal of Honor citation reads: “For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as Medical Corpsman with a rifle company, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Okinawa Jima, Ryukyu Islands, 2 May 1945. Fearlessly braving the fury of artillery, mortar, and machine gun fire from strongly entrenched hostile positions, Bush constantly and unhesitatingly moved from one casualty to another to attend the wounded falling under the enemy’s murderous barrages. As the attack passed over a ridge top, Bush was advancing to administer blood plasma to a Marine officer lying wounded on the skyline when the Japanese launched a savage counterattack. In this perilously exposed position, he resolutely maintained the flow of life-giving plasma. With the bottle held high in one hand, Bush drew his pistol with the other and fired into the enemy’s ranks until his ammunition was expended. Quickly seizing a discarded carbine, he trained his fire on the Japanese charging pointblank over the hill, accounting for six of the enemy despite his own serious wounds and the loss of one eye suffered during his desperate battle in defense of the helpless man. With the hostile force finally routed, he calmly disregarded his own critical condition to complete his mission, valiantly refusing medical treatment for himself until his officer patient had been evacuated, and collapsing only after attempting to walk to the battle aid station. His daring initiative, great personal valor, and heroic spirit of self-sacrifice in service of others reflect great credit upon Bush and enhance the finest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service.”
Bush was also good friends with fellow Medal of Honor recipient U.S. Army Air Forces Brigadier General James “Jimmy” Doolittle.
In 2005, Bush died from kidney cancer at the age of 79.
Robert Bush Park is located at 1101 W Robert Bush Drive in South Bend. Robert E. Bush Naval Hospital in Twentynine Palms, California is also named in his honor.
