thedrifter
12-04-08, 08:10 AM
Flag of honor recognizes Iwo Jima vet
Superior Telegram - 12/04/2008
A teen baseball phenomenon killed while rescuing a wounded marine during the battle of Iwo Jima will be remembered with a flag raising at 9 a.m. Friday at the Richard I. Bong World War II Heritage Center.
Ray Earl Bushaw was born on Dec. 7, 1921, to Harry and Ruth Bushaw in Mellen, Wis., the third youngest of 11 children. As he grew up, he was a popular, clean cut young man who excelled in anything he undertook. His passion was baseball, and while still a teenager gained recognition in the Mellen area as a catcher. When Ray was 17, pro scouts wanted to sign him, but his parents wanted him to finish high school. Ray possessed an outstanding arm and quick reflexes. According to The Mellen Weekly, “If he had not volunteered for the Marines he no doubt would have reached the pinnacle of success in the sport he loved.” After high school graduation in 1941, Ray played his last season of organized baseball. Fast forward to Dec. 7, 1941. As Ray was celebrating his 20th birthday, the Japanese launched their attack on Pearl Harbor — “A day which will live in infamy.” The idyllic days of his youth were over.
The war
With war declared against Japan, Ray’s brother Glenn joined the U.S. Army; his brother Jack, the U.S. Navy. On March 29, 1942, Ray departed for the Marine Corps Recruit Depot at San Diego, Calif. He was an excellent recruit and after boot camp was kept on as an instructor. Promotions came quickly and he achieved the rank of Sergeant in the summer of 1943. Sgt. Bushaw put many young men through boot camp. According to family sources, one recruit was famous actor Tyrone Power. During his two years as a drill instructor, Bushaw made several requests for overseas duty and was finally granted his wish and arrived in Hawaii in Oct. 1944 as a replacement for the 4th Marine Division, which had suffered heavy losses at Saipan in June 1944. Bushaw was assigned to the 3rd Battalion 24th Regiment and began training for the Marine Corps’ toughest battle of World War II — Iwo Jima.
Iwo Jima
In late January, 1945, the U.S. invasion fleet left Hawaii and arrived off the shores of Iwo Jima on Feb. 16, 1945. It was an unearthly place, unlike any island the marines had yet seen. There were no white sand beaches, no palm trees or lush jungles. Instead the beaches were black volcanic ash, and inland, sulpher-spewing rock with ridges and gullies which concealed the enemy awaited the marines. One marine veteran described Iwo as “Ghastly — it was like a piece of the moon had dropped down to earth.” The Japanese were well prepared for the invasion with a vast bunker system, hidden artillery and 11 miles of underground tunnels.
The battle
The U.S. Navy pounded the island for three days. At 0859 on Feb. 19, 1945, the invasion began. Bushaw landed on Blue Beach 1 with the 3/24 attached to the 3/25th Regiment. After several days of fierce fighting, Airfield 1 was secured. The 4th Marine Division swung north toward the heart of the Japanese defenses, the Motoyama Plateau. This area was said to have been the most heavily fortified part of the island and contained The Quarry, The Amphitheater, Turkey Knob and Hill 382. It took nearly three weeks to secure this area. One of the toughest battles in this sector was Hill 382. For nearly a week the marines had unsuccessfully tried to take this objective. On Saturday, March 3, the 24th Regiment with 3/24, 2/24 and 1/24 in line, attacked at 0630. The fierce battle raged into the afternoon until the hill was finally secured.
During the assault on Hill 382, Sgt. Bushaw was killed in action while rescuing a wounded marine. For his actions on Iwo Jima, the Mellen man was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, Asiatic-Pacific Medal and the WWII Victory Medal. His Bronze Star citation reads as follows:
“... With complete disregard for his own safety, Sergeant Bushaw voluntarily left his foxhole during a heavy mortar barrage and went to the aid of a wounded comrade, successfully removing him to a position of relative safety. Receiving fatal wounds during the rescue, Sergeant Bushaw, by his valiant courage and self-sacrificing initiative, had upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.”
He lay buried at the foot of Mount Suribachi until his reburial on Nov. 15, 1948, at Fort Snelling National Cemetery, Minneapolis, where he rests today.
Sgt. Ray Earl Bushaw died as he lived, with courage and honor. He will always be remembered as a hero to his family, which include his sister, Hazel Cassidy, of Belvue, Wash.; Mrs. Jack Bushaw (Dorothy), Beloit, Wis.; Mrs. Richard Bushaw (Beatrice), her children, Terry, Penny and Rick and David Lundquist, nephew, all of Mellen; niece Coralie Bushaw-Dalbec, and nephews Raymond Earl Bushaw and Beryl H. Bushaw, all of Superior.
Ellie
Superior Telegram - 12/04/2008
A teen baseball phenomenon killed while rescuing a wounded marine during the battle of Iwo Jima will be remembered with a flag raising at 9 a.m. Friday at the Richard I. Bong World War II Heritage Center.
Ray Earl Bushaw was born on Dec. 7, 1921, to Harry and Ruth Bushaw in Mellen, Wis., the third youngest of 11 children. As he grew up, he was a popular, clean cut young man who excelled in anything he undertook. His passion was baseball, and while still a teenager gained recognition in the Mellen area as a catcher. When Ray was 17, pro scouts wanted to sign him, but his parents wanted him to finish high school. Ray possessed an outstanding arm and quick reflexes. According to The Mellen Weekly, “If he had not volunteered for the Marines he no doubt would have reached the pinnacle of success in the sport he loved.” After high school graduation in 1941, Ray played his last season of organized baseball. Fast forward to Dec. 7, 1941. As Ray was celebrating his 20th birthday, the Japanese launched their attack on Pearl Harbor — “A day which will live in infamy.” The idyllic days of his youth were over.
The war
With war declared against Japan, Ray’s brother Glenn joined the U.S. Army; his brother Jack, the U.S. Navy. On March 29, 1942, Ray departed for the Marine Corps Recruit Depot at San Diego, Calif. He was an excellent recruit and after boot camp was kept on as an instructor. Promotions came quickly and he achieved the rank of Sergeant in the summer of 1943. Sgt. Bushaw put many young men through boot camp. According to family sources, one recruit was famous actor Tyrone Power. During his two years as a drill instructor, Bushaw made several requests for overseas duty and was finally granted his wish and arrived in Hawaii in Oct. 1944 as a replacement for the 4th Marine Division, which had suffered heavy losses at Saipan in June 1944. Bushaw was assigned to the 3rd Battalion 24th Regiment and began training for the Marine Corps’ toughest battle of World War II — Iwo Jima.
Iwo Jima
In late January, 1945, the U.S. invasion fleet left Hawaii and arrived off the shores of Iwo Jima on Feb. 16, 1945. It was an unearthly place, unlike any island the marines had yet seen. There were no white sand beaches, no palm trees or lush jungles. Instead the beaches were black volcanic ash, and inland, sulpher-spewing rock with ridges and gullies which concealed the enemy awaited the marines. One marine veteran described Iwo as “Ghastly — it was like a piece of the moon had dropped down to earth.” The Japanese were well prepared for the invasion with a vast bunker system, hidden artillery and 11 miles of underground tunnels.
The battle
The U.S. Navy pounded the island for three days. At 0859 on Feb. 19, 1945, the invasion began. Bushaw landed on Blue Beach 1 with the 3/24 attached to the 3/25th Regiment. After several days of fierce fighting, Airfield 1 was secured. The 4th Marine Division swung north toward the heart of the Japanese defenses, the Motoyama Plateau. This area was said to have been the most heavily fortified part of the island and contained The Quarry, The Amphitheater, Turkey Knob and Hill 382. It took nearly three weeks to secure this area. One of the toughest battles in this sector was Hill 382. For nearly a week the marines had unsuccessfully tried to take this objective. On Saturday, March 3, the 24th Regiment with 3/24, 2/24 and 1/24 in line, attacked at 0630. The fierce battle raged into the afternoon until the hill was finally secured.
During the assault on Hill 382, Sgt. Bushaw was killed in action while rescuing a wounded marine. For his actions on Iwo Jima, the Mellen man was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, Asiatic-Pacific Medal and the WWII Victory Medal. His Bronze Star citation reads as follows:
“... With complete disregard for his own safety, Sergeant Bushaw voluntarily left his foxhole during a heavy mortar barrage and went to the aid of a wounded comrade, successfully removing him to a position of relative safety. Receiving fatal wounds during the rescue, Sergeant Bushaw, by his valiant courage and self-sacrificing initiative, had upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.”
He lay buried at the foot of Mount Suribachi until his reburial on Nov. 15, 1948, at Fort Snelling National Cemetery, Minneapolis, where he rests today.
Sgt. Ray Earl Bushaw died as he lived, with courage and honor. He will always be remembered as a hero to his family, which include his sister, Hazel Cassidy, of Belvue, Wash.; Mrs. Jack Bushaw (Dorothy), Beloit, Wis.; Mrs. Richard Bushaw (Beatrice), her children, Terry, Penny and Rick and David Lundquist, nephew, all of Mellen; niece Coralie Bushaw-Dalbec, and nephews Raymond Earl Bushaw and Beryl H. Bushaw, all of Superior.
Ellie