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(47K) USS BUSH profile. |
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(66K) USS BUSH Profile in Camoflauge Paint Scheme |
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(55K) Destroyer Division Command Change -
Captain John B. McLean, USN, ComDesDiv48, was relieved by Commander James S. Willis on
January 31, 1945 |
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(35K) "The Real Chief" was often stationed
stateside for many a brave sailor. |
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(58K) USS BUSH Cooks and Bakers |
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(40K) Cousins: S. R. (Ray) Mayhugh, Chief Torpedoman's Mate
and Ed Bennett, Seaman 1st Class, pose on one of the smoke screen generators. |
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(99K) Two pictures of CTM, S. R. Mayhugh
and an image of an official telegram from the Chief of Naval Personnel notifying
relatives of his fate after the ship was lost. |
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(81K) January 17, 1945 - Two pictures of bosun's chair transfer
of rescued naval aviators in Lingayen Gulf |
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(33K) Mount Suribachi on Iwo Jima shows in the distance.
The USS BUSH participated in the Iwo Jima invasion, providing fire support to US Marines
among other duties. |
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(90K) Most USS BUSH officers onboard in late July
1944 are pictured here. |
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(33K) The ammunition ship SS JOHN BURKE explodes
after being hit by a Japanes suicide plane. There were no survivors. |
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(65K) A suicide plane narrowly misses a transport
ship during a resupply convoy to Mindoro September 28, 1944. |
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(74K) The USS BUSH during World War II |
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(26K) Smoking remains of a Japanese torpedo bomber
shot down by the USS BUSH on November 1, 1944 in the Surigao Straits, Philippine Islands
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(54K) Surviving members of BUSH's Ordnance Division
pose for pictures on the USS HENRICO while enroute to San Francisco and 30 days
survivors leave. |
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(49K) USS BUSH Torpedo Gang - Torpedomen were responsible
for the ship's ten 21-inch torpedos, depth charges/k-guns, and often stood wheel watch
on the bridge when not at their stations. |
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(44K) Cmdr. R. E. Westholm - USS BUSH Commanding
Officer May 30, 1944 through April 6, 1945. Includes two photos. |
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(93K) Mortally wounded USS BUSH - Photo taken by CAP of
USS COLHOUN (DD801) and smoke obscured USS BUSH April 6, 1945 |
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(87K) Dockside photo at Mare Island - The USS BUSH
undergoes overall at Mare Island California in May & June, 1944. |
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(47K) October 16, 1944 - Major General Charles F. Stivers
US Army and Lt. Colonel J. McMicking, US Army Air Force on the bridge of the USS BUSH
enroute to Leyte Island Invasion. |
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(55K) Major General Charles P. Stivers, US Army
embarks for the invastion of Leyte Island. |
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(60K) James "Okie" Reeder, RdM3c, and
publisher of the USS BUSH newsletter "The Daily Twig". |
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(60K) Charles F. Atwood, S2c served during
the early days of the BUSH life, until injury forced his departure. |
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(30K) USS BUSH Storekeepers part of the
"S Division" which included storekeepers, cooks and bakers. |
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(30K) After Engineroom Crew - Pictured are
some of the men that ran the aft (rear) engine room. |
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(40K) Engineering Division sailors from the
USS BUSH are shown in this 1945 photograph. |
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(20K) Machinist's Mates - Meet
Gordon Burke, Joe Enloe, and a lifetime friend of Joe's. |
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(37K) Loading torpedos - Four of the
first torpedomen to board BUSH are pictured loading torpedos while in port. |
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(20K) David Davey, S2c - Killed in Action
April 6, 1945. Like so many who served aboard BUSH, he was a dependable and valiant
young man doing his best, doing a tough job. |
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(25K) Charlie Dixon and Rufus Van White take a
break while the BUSH is repaired in May, 1944 at Mare Island. |
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(35K) Ed Stewart, RT2c was lost with the
sinking of the USS BUSH. An American Legion Post has taken Ed's name in lasting
tribute to his sacrifice. |
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(55K) Bow shot of the The USS BUSH during in World War II |
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(50K) No. 1 5-Inch Gun Crew captained by Jim
Collinson, GM2c. They called him "Pop" and the gun "Helen". Find out why! |
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(16K) Ben Albanese, S1c helped to commission the BUSH,
was later transferred, yet he was there on April 6, 1945 when BUSH was lost. Find out how.
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(25K) Dan Tontz, Lt. jg - One of several officers
helping to manage ship communications.
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(50K) Surviving Officers - Most of the
officers aboard when the ship was sunk are pictured on the USS HENRICO, the ship
that transported most BUSH survivors back to the States.
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(55K) Paul P. Trella, S2c was just 17 years old when
he reported aboard BUSH on May 19, 1944. The Japanese "Divine Wind" would claim the
life of Paul on April 6, 1945.
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(26K) Meet Cmdr. Thurmond Smith. He was
"Captain" of the USS BUSH from June 12, 1943 until May 30, 1944.
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(50K) Ensign Robert "Bob" Carney receives
a purple heart for wounds received during the April 6, 1945 attack that claimed the
USS BUSH.
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(26K) Two Gunner's Mates and a Cook! Ship's
Cook Walter Koza and Gunner's Mates Mario Petroni and Harry Parker pose during break
from their duties.
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(79K) Kornuiat Island Officer's Club: The
Destroyer and Cruiser Officer's Club on Kornuiat Island, in the Admiralty Group, is
pictured in 1944, along with a photocopy of a club card.
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(42K) More survivors of the April 6, 1945 sinking
of the USS BUSH are pictured on their way back to the States. Can you help identify the
unknown faces?
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(33K) Several Officers serving during the
the first year of the BUSH experience are pictured with Commander Thurmond Smith,
then Captain of the USS BUSH.
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(180K) Admiralty Island Invasion Photos: Eight
pictures taken aboard the USS BUSH by an Army private as he accompanied a number of
wounded soldier's brought aboard ship for medical care. Links to a related report
prepared by the ship's doctor, Lt. George Johnson, are also included. (This page
will take longer to load with the number of pictures included.)
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(25K) The Medical Department: Four men
assigned to the USS BUSH Medical Department are pictured. Three of these four were
aboard for entire life of DD-529.
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(25K) Meet Doc Johnson, a much admired
respected shipmate on the USS BUSH. In addition to his medical duties, he was the
ship's photographer and part time editor.
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(26K) A Commissioning Invitation
is pictured for the ceremony held May 10, 1943.
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(37K) The 1943 Christmas Dinner Menu for
USS BUSH is pictured. Looked pretty tasty!
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(38K) S-Division Survivors: Enlisted survivors
on the USS HENRICO after their ordeal of April 6, 1945.
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(38K) Joseph "Vernon" Meisetschlager, SoM2/c
and lost in action April 6, 1945.
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(42K) Chief Petty Officers: Many of the
Chief Petty Officers serving on the USS BUSH during the October 1944 Leyte Island invasion
are pictured aboard ship.
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(29K) Boatswains & Coxswains: Enlisted
men of the ship's deck division pose in front of the 5-inch Gun Director, just weeks
before the BUSH would succumb to enemy kamikaze attacks.
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(29K) Meet Lt. Cmdr. Thomas B. Owen the ship's
Executive Officer and Navigator as the BUSH supported the Iwo Jima and Okinawa invasions.
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(180K) The Great Mustache Contest: As to which
officer grew the best mustache, we may never know, but the photographic evidence should
provide some good clues. Judge them for yourself!
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(28K) ComDesDiv48: Find out what ComDesDiv48
means, and see two of the men who performed this important assignment.
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(31K) Refueled At Sea: The BUSH tops off
her tanks as she prepares for the invasion of Leyte Island in The Philippines.
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(153K) Rescue - Surigao Strait: Twelve still
images recall the USS BUSH rescue of two US Army pilots on November 11, 1944. These
images were captured from 16MM motion picture film shot aboard BUSH.
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(301K) Crossing the Line: Sixteen separate
images help chronical Navy tradition aboard BUSH as sailors cross the equator for the
first time, and being transformed from Pollywogs to Shellbacks. Fun stuff!
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(135K) More Faces of Those Serving: Eleven
individual photos of eight officers and three enlisted men serving aboarb BUSH are
displayed on this page, along with notations about dates aboard and duties. Some of
these men did not survive the sinking April 6, 1945.
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(20K) Tanker USS PORCUPINE is struck on
December 30, 1944 after reaching the island of Mindoro in The Philippines.
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(18K) At Dutch Harbor, Alaska the USS BUSH
is pictured at anchor.
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(13K) At anchor in Wooloomooloo Bay, a
memorable place for a number of BUSH sailors!
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(40K) Surgery at Sea could make quite an
impression on the ship's crew. Here you can read what others wrote home about the
subject, plus find a couple of photos of the Medical Department in action.
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(21K) Anti-Aircraft Fire fills the air
in this photo of action as the USS BUSH and other destroyers provide protection
for convoy of transport and supply ships in late 1944.
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(129K) Convoy to Mindoro attacked December
28, 1944. Nine images taken from newsreel footage shot from the USS BUSH are shown,
including the loss of the liberty ship, SS JOHN BURKE.
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(31K) Richard E. Burge, SM2c, a Pearl
Harbor survivor, was one of the experienced hands to help commission the USS BUSH.
Fate would make his stay aboard BUSH a short one.
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(21K) Proud Shipmates - Torpedoman's
Mates 3rd Class Art Woolfolk and Thomas Soo Hoo are pictured with Ed Bennett, Coxswain.
The two torpedomen served aboard BUSH from beginning to end.
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(52K) T. I. Celebration - Several BUSH sailors
have reason to celebrate at T. I., another Navy acronym for a place known to many sailors.
Find out what T. I. means and why they are celebrating.
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(56K) Radar Survivors - Surviving members
of the ship's radar crew.
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(56K) USS BUSH Bridge Plaque - The St.
Christopher's plaque pictured was mounted on the ship's bridge. St. Christopher is
the protector of travelers. The plaque still survives today thanks to Bob Shirey,
Electrician's Mate 3rd Class. Find out how both survived the sinking of BUSH on
April 6, 1945.
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(38K) Fighter Direction Officers - Ensign Coit
Butler and Lt. James Starr - During the last two months of the BUSH experience,
a special Fighter Direction team was aboard ship. Learn more about the important
role of this team and why Ensign Coit Butler found himself swimming twice while
on radar picket duty!
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(273K) Rescue Ships - Nine ships providing
assistance to the men aboard the sinking USS BUSH are remembered.
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(245K) Rescue Sailors - This page includes
a few pictures representing the several hundred sailors participating in the rescue
of USS BUSH sailors.
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(307K) The Trip Home - Images of the ships
that housed and transported surviving USS BUSH sailors after their rescue. Includes
two transports and two hospital ships.
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(32K) Two Wellsburg Boys - Pictured are
two Bush sailors, both from Wellsburg, West Virginia.
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(62K) Bob Wise and Ben Libassi - Both
reporting aboard the USS Bush as brand new sailors on May 19, 1944. Both were
still there on April 6, 1945.
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(92K) 1945 Navy Press Release - An example
of the work the Navy's Public Relations personnel performed is noted, in this case
a short story about several USS BUSH survivors from Pennsylvania.
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(32K) Richard Robertson - July 23, 1944
Accident Casualty. This former Water Tender 3rd Class recalls his early days
aboard ship and the 5-inch gun accident in which he was critically injured.
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(95K) Admiralty Islands - Los Negros Landing
Veterans Ted Majusick and Joe Chartrand, two sailors from the troop transport
USS HUMPHREYS (APD-12), recall the landings that began February 29, 1944. Both
would come aboard the USS BUSH, one delivering wounded men for medical care and
one as a casualty.
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(82K) Bronze Star Receipient Moses G. Hubbard,
Lt. (jg) is recognized in a 1947 newspaper clipping that tells of his actions during
DD-529's last day afloat.
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(28K) Al Blakely - SoM2c and Myarl Rose - RdM3c
were part of the Communications Division aboard ship. Both were assigned to the
USS Bush from commissioning date until date of loss.
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(22K) Narvis Robinson and Bob Wise were
two of a number of young sailors reporting to the USS Bush in May 1944. Fresh
from boot camp, the coming year would have quite an experience in store for them and
their new shipmates.
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(45K) Carl Tillman and Marvin Scott were
two of the ship's torpedomen. Both perished on April 6, 1945. This photo page
remembers both men. The page includes excerpts from a letter written to Carl
Tillman's sister by the ship's Chief Torpedoman's Mate.
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(55K) Gene Lukowski, TM2c is
remembered. Gene was one of five sailors killed in a 5-inch gun accident
during bombardment and anti-aircraft excercises on July 23, 1944.
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(133K) Ken Kalhagen - TM3c and the
1943 torpedo school manual. Some of the ship's original torpedomen are shown along
with images of two of the Fleet Torpedo School manuals used in 1943 and 1944.
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(38K) Robert Aguilar, SKD2c, helped ensure
the payload from one of the ship's 5-inch guns reached its targets and that his fellow
shipmates were properly paid on payday. After the ship was sunk, reconstructing
payroll records was no easy task.
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(40K) #41 Gun Crew - Most Likely! A picture
of Ray Sobczynski, Gunner's Mate 3rd Class and some of his shipmates. Though not
confirmed, it is believed the men in the photo were part of the Ray's Twin 40MM gun
crew. Ray was the #41 gun captain.
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(61K) Wesley Northey - BM1c
is remembered, as a Silver Star recipient and brand new father. Wesley perished
with the loss of the USS Bush. The page recalls some of the actions for
which Wesley received the Silver Star; his love for his wife; and his excitement
about parenthood. Excerpts from a letter to home provides insight into the
mail censorship that was so common in WWII.
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(51K) Miller West Beals - F2c
was one of the "older" new sailors when he reported aboard ship on July 27,
1944. Married and a father of two, Miller was reported missing in action on
April 6, 1945.
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(58K) Gene Younce - RM3c
served aboard the USS Bush nearly all of her existence, participating in every combat
action she encountered.
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(23K) Albert Brody - PhM3c : He
worked with the ship's Medical Department from May 1944 until the last
plane struck the ship in the late afternoon of April 6, 1945.
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(31K) Ensign Jerome Rush : An
Assistant CIC Officer, this young Ensign would distinguish himself aboard
ship during combat on April 6, 1945, receiving a Bronze Star. This page
remembers Jerome Rush and provides some insights into the Navy's V-12
training program to help train the officers the Navy needed during WWII.
Ensign Rush was reported missing in action after the sinking.
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(134K) Meet Stan "Stores" Gallaher :
Part of the "S-Division", Stan Gallaher helped run the ship's store, handle payroll and keep a
supply of ammo flowing to one of the 5-inch guns.
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(242K) J. M. Cross - FC2c : A Fire Controlman
aboard the USS Bush, J. M. was lost on April 6, 1945 earning a Silver Star for
his actions that day. This page remembers him, his noble deed, as well as two
other Fire Controlmen, Coy Phillips and Norm Handy.
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(53K) Miles S. Burke - StM2c, a
man of great strength in body and character, was a recipient of the
Navy and Marine Corps Medal for his actions on April 6, 1945. This
page recalls Burke and his unselfish, lifesaving actions.
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(35K) Gilmer Thomas - S1c, shares
some of his memories as a young new sailor aboard the USS Bush.
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(39K) Raymond Lockhart - WT1c, one of five men killed in a 5-inch shell accident on July 23, 1944 is remembered.
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(26K) Ensign John Littleton was the
Executive Officer and Navigator aboard the LCS(L) 64 when the USS Bush was
lost. Read how his actions, and those of his shipmates, were essential in
helping save lives of USS Bush personnel. This page offers a glimpse at the
duties of a ship's navigator, as well as how this 21 year old officer came to
be his ship's XO.
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(20K) John Hillan – FC1c
was a valued member of the ship's Ordnance Division, serving aboard the USS
Bush from commissioning date until just prior to the battle for Okinawa.
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(71K) Lt.(jg)
John Gordon Foster was part of the Fighter Direction team
reporting aboard the USS Bush on January 27, 1945. A specialist
in the most advanced radar of the time, Lt. (jg) Foster lost his
life when the USS Bush was sunk. This page remembers Foster
and his "Yankee Ingenuity".
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(57K) Seattle, Washington Survivors -
Three men from Washington, who helped commission the ship and survived her
sinking are remembered - Carpenter's Mate Jack Day, Boilermaker John Peterson and
Water Tender Curtis Stenson. This page includes quotes from Day and Peterson
upon their return in 1945, as well as memories from Jack Day about the early
day's aboard ship and his duties as a carpenter's mate.
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(113K) Nicholas L. Kosty-F1c -
was listed as Killed In Action on April 6, 1945. This page remembers him,
the letters received by his mother regarding his death, and one of the men
who helped retrieve his body from the sea.
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(150K) Lt. (jg) Richard P. Anderson -
was the ship's engineering officer. He helped put the USS BUSH into commission and
was still assigned to BUSH at the time of her sinking. Lt. (jg) Anderson died
when the first suicide plane struck the ship. This page remembers Anderson
through several pictures and letters shared with his brother.
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(150K) Edmond B. Bennett - Coxswain -
was part of ship's deck division. Along with his cousin's help, he managed a
transfer to the USS BUSH. Bennett would received a Letter of Commendation for
his actions on the day BUSH was lost to 3 kamikaze planes. This photo page
shares Bennett's vivid memories of shipmates and the day BUSH was lost.
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(30K) Eugene N. Sanzi - Y3c -
was a yeoman aboard the USS BUSH. This page provides a glimpse into the duties
of the ship's yeomen through the memories of Yeoman Sanzi. He also shares
memories of his feelings at reaching his first ship, his time aboard BUSH and the
sinking on April 6, 1945.
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(65K) Stanley B. Greenberg - MoMM1c -
is remembered. Greenberg was a Motor Machinist's Mate aboard USS BUSH.
He was one of those who did not survive the ship's final action on
April 6, 1945.
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(65K) John E. Lavelle – S2c -
shares some of his recollections as the ship’s projectionist on movie night.
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(21K) Fred D. Johns – RM3c -
is remembered. He served aboard DD529 for all but 3 days of the
ship's life as a commissionined ship of war in the U. S. Navy.
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(21K) Homer Paul Pace – MM1c -
is pictured. He served aboard DD-529 from beginning to end, and lost his
life when the ship was sunk.
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(242K) Tony Wysocki - S1c : Seaman First Class
Tony Wysocki is remembered. Wysocki was killed in action on April 6, 1945. He was awarded a
Silver Star for his actions aboard USS BUSH during the ship's final hours.
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(1500K) Donnell D. Mills - MM2c : Machinist
Mate 2nd Class Donnell Mills is remembered. Mills was at his station in the forward
engine room when the first plane struck the ship, killing all in that space instantly.
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(1500K) Jack Welch - S1c : Seaman 1st Class
Jack Welch is remembered. Welch survived the ship's sinking but not his time in the
water.
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