The President of the United States in the name of The Congress
takes pride in presenting the MEDAL OF HONOR to

HOSPITAL APPRENTICE FIRST CLASS
ROBERT E. BUSH
UNITED STATES NAVAL RESERVE

for service as set forth in the following

CITATION:

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as Medical Corpsman with a Rifle Company, Second Battalion, Fifth Marines, FIFTH Marine Division in action against enemy Japanese forces on Okinawa Jima, Ryukyu Islands on 2 May 1945. Fearlessly braving the fury of artillery, mortar, and machinegun fire from strongly entrenched hostile positions, Petty Officer Bush constantly and unhesitatingly moved from one casualty to another to attend the wounded falling under the enemy's murderous barrages. As the attack passed over a ridge top, Petty Officer Bush was advancing to administer blood plasma to a Marine officer lying wounded on the skyline when the Japanese launched a savage counterattack. In this perilously exposed position, he resolutely maintained the flow of lifegiving plasma. With the bottle held high in one hand, Petty Officer Bush drew his pistol with the other and fired into the enemy's ranks until his ammunition was expended. Quickly seizing a discarded carbine, he trained his fire on Japanese charging point-blank over the hill, accounting for six of the enemy despite his own serious wounds and the loss of one eye in defense of the helpless man. With the hostile force finally routed, he calmly disregarded his own critical condition to complete his mission, valiantly refusing medical treatment for himself until his officer patient had been evacuated, and collapsing only after attempting to walk to the battle field station. By his daring initiative, great personal valor, heroic spirit, and complete devotion to duty of self-sacrifice in service of others, Petty Officer Bush reflected great credit upon and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.