Ken Harbaugh tells the stories of service members who have distinguished themselves through an act of valor. These stories feature recipients from the Civil War to present day, including a few who were originally overlooked for the medal.
At the end of a months-long battle to capture Okinawa, Cpl Bush and his Marines charged a mountain stronghold when an enemy grenade landed among them. Without hesitation, Bush jumped on it, saving their lives.
Welcome to the Medal of Honor podcast, brought to you in partnership with the National Medal of Honor Museum. I’m Ken Harbaugh. In each episode, we’ll learn about a different service member who has distinguished him or herself through an act of valor.
Master Gunnery Sergeant Richard Earl Bush was born on December 23rd, 1924 in Glasgow, Kentucky.
When he was 17, right before US involvement in World War II, Bush enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserve and initially trained as an armorer. He was then assigned to a volunteer unit that specialized in amphibious warfare and raiding. During Bush’s time with the Raiders, the unit took part in the Allied capture of the Solomon Islands, specifically the New Georgia campaign to isolate an Imperial Japanese base.
In the spring of 1945, the Allies’ island hopping campaign crescendoed with the Battle of Okinawa, the final island to seize before Japan. Okinawa was strategically significant for its proximity to Japan, its airfield, and its large size, making it the best staging point for further air raids or even an invasion of the mainland. The battle for Okinawa began on April 1st, 1945, and included Bush’s regiment, 4th Marines.
On April 16th, then-Corporal Bush, a squad leader in 1st Battalion, 4th Marines, led an attack on an enemy defensive position on Mount Yae-take, in northern Okinawa.
Bush and his men charged through heavy artillery and machine gun fire, capturing a stronghold and gaining a foothold in the inner defenses of the mountain. He was wounded in the attack, and was evacuated with other Marines to a casualty collection point, when a Japanese grenade landed in their position. Without hesitation, Bush covered the grenade with his body, absorbing the blast and saving the other wounded Marines from further harm. Bush lost several fingers, and was blinded in one eye, but survived.
Six months later, Bush was awarded the Medal of Honor at the White House for his actions on Okinawa. His other awards include two Purple Hearts, the Combat Action Ribbon, the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, and the World War II Victory Medal. Bush became one of only four Marines during World War II to jump on a grenade and survive.
After World War II, Bush stayed in the Marine Corps Reserve, rising to the rank of Master Gunnery Sergeant, while working as a counselor for the VA. On June 7th, 2004, Bush passed away from a heart ailment in Waukegan, Illinois.
The Medal of Honor Podcast is a production of Evergreen Podcasts.
Nathan Corson is our producer and engineer, León Pescador is our script writer, Declan Rohrs is our script editor and recording engineer, and I’m Ken Harbaugh.
We are proud to support the National Medal of Honor Museum. To learn more, and to support their mission, got to mohmuseum.org. Thanks for listening.
