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Corpsman youngest sailor to be awarded MoH in WWII

Robert E. Bush was just 18 years old when he was put to the test during the battle for Okinawa. Sailors today might regard Bush as a symbol for every corpsman who ever mustered courage in a tight spot.

Born in Washington state in 1926, Bush grew up with his mother, a nurse, living in the basement of the hospital where she worked. After the U.S. entered World War II, Bush worked briefly in a sawmill — although he was not legally old enough to hold a job — before joining the Navy in 1943.

The struggle on Okinawa began with the last great invasion of the Pacific war and became one of the war’s bloodiest battles. On May 2, 1945, Bush was a hospital apprentice first class and a corpsman with a Marine Corps rifle company.

According to Navy documents, he was the youngest sailor to be awarded the Medal of Honor for an action in World War II. He received the nation’s highest award from President Truman in a White House ceremony Oct. 5, 1945. The citation for Bush’s award described him popping up everywhere amid the carnage of close-quarters fighting.

“Fearlessly braving the fury of artillery, mortar, and machinegun fire from strongly entrenched [Japanese] positions, Bush constantly and unhesitatingly moved from one casualty to another to attend the wounded falling under the enemy’s murderous barrages,” the citation states.

Near a ridge top, Bush was advancing to administer blood plasma to a wounded Marine officer when the Japanese counterattacked.

The Marine lieutenant had received grave chest and shoulder wounds. He was unable to move and might have bled to death without Bush’s help.

“In this perilously exposed position, he resolutely maintained the flow of life-giving plasma,” the citation reads.

“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.”

Bush then seized the lieutenant’s M1 carbine and fired the weapon with one hand while holding up a plasma transfer bottle with the other. He trained his fire on the Japanese charging over the hill. Bush killed six Japanese soldiers despite his own serious wounds and the loss of one eye. The citation calls this “his desperate battle in defense of [a] helpless man.”

Bush later said that while this was happening, fragments from three hand grenades hit him, according to an Associated Press account.

When the Japanese withdrew, Bush refused medical treatment for himself until his last patient had been treated and evacuated. Once he knew his work was done, he turned to walk to an aid station —- and collapsed.

Despite the loss of an eye and other wounds, Bush survived.

He lived a low-key existence after the war but did permit a lengthy segment about his experience in Tom Brokaw’s book, “The Greatest Generation.” He went on to earn a private pilot’s license while running a lumber business. He died in 2005. Ë

Robert F. Dorr, an Air Force veteran, lives in Oakton, Va. He is co-author of “Hell Hawks,” a history of an American fighter group. His e-mail address is robert.f.dorr@cox.net. Fred L. Borch retired from the Army after 25 years and is the regimental historian for the Army Judge Advocate General’s Corps. He is the author of “The Silver Star,” a history of America’s third-highest award for combat heroism. His e-mail address is borchfj@aol.com.