Robert Eugene Bush was born on 4 October 1926 in Tacoma, Washington. In 1944 he left high school to enlist in the U.S. Navy Reserve and subsequently served as a Hospital Apprentice First Class. On 2 May 1945, during the battle for Okinawa, he was a Rifle Company Medical Corpsman with the Second Battalion, Fifth Marines, Fifth Marine Division. While attacking the enemy, a Marine Officer fell wounded in a fire-swept location. Bush, who had been assisting other wounded Marines, went to the officer's exposed postion and administered blood plasma amidst the perilous battle conditions. As the Japanese counterattacked, he courageously remained with the disabled officer, firing back with one hand while holding the plasma bottle in the other. Despite his own serious injuries, Bush continued to provide aid until his patient was evacuated. For his "conspicuous gallantry" on this occasion, he was presented with the Medal of Honor by President Harry S. Truman on 5 October 1945, during "Nimitz Day" celebrations at the White House in Washington, D.C. He was the youngest World War II Navy man to receive the Medal of Honor.
During the following decades Bush was a successful businessman in Washington State and worked on behalf of military veterans. Though his combat injuries left him with only one eye, he qualified as a private pilot and flew his own airplane. Robert E. Bush died on 8 November 2005 and is buried at Fern Hill Cemetery, Menlo, Washington.
Concerning his Medal of Honor, Bush reportedly commented: "This medal wasn't given to me because I'm the greatest guy who came down the pike. We had thousands who lost their lives who were certainly identifiable as being able ... to receive the Medal of Honor. But perhaps it wasn't properly documented. So, I look at it as though I'm a custodian for those who died." (quoted from his obituary in the "Washington Post", 10 November 2005).
This page features the only images we have concerning Robert E. Bush.
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Photo #: NH 84953 Hospital Apprentice First Class Robert E. Bush, USN Halftone reproduction of a photograph, copied from the official publication "Medal of Honor, 1861-1949, The Navy", page 164. Robert E. Bush was awarded the Medal of Honor for "conspicuous gallantry" while serving as a Medical Corpsman with a Rifle Company, Second Battalion, Fifth Marines, Fifth Marine Division in battle at Okinawa Jima, Ryukyu Islands, 2 May 1945. He bravely administered aid to a wounded Marine officer and fired back at the Japanese at the same time. Despite being wounded by the enemy, Bush remained aiding the officer until he was evacuated. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 47KB; 580 x 765 pixels |
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Photo #: 80-G-701139 Hospital Apprentice First Class Robert E. Bush, USN Receives the Medal of Honor from President Harry S. Truman during Nimitz Day Ceremonies at the White House on 5 October 1945. In the background, at right, are Vice Admiral Marc A. Mitscher, USN, and Vice Admiral Ross T. McIntyre, USN. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives. Online Image: 57KB; 580 x 765 pixels Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system. |
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Medal of Honor citation of Hospital Apprentice First Class Robert E. Bush, USNR (as printed in the official publication "Medal of Honor, 1861-1949, The Navy", page 164): |
If you want higher resolution reproductions than the "Online Library's" digital images, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions." |
Page made 29 May 2008