Rowland G. Bush collection

Collection — Multiple Containers

Identifier: 09.0113

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

This collection relates to Technician Fifth Grade Rowland G. Bush, who served as a medical corpsman with the 104th Infantry Division, and was killed in action on October 25, 1944. The collection contains his Purple Heart and Silver Star, as well as their accompanying certificates, a Western Union telegram notifying his mother of his death, condolence letters, correspondence requesting his body be moved from Belgium to California, photographs of Rowland and his family, and the 48-star flag from his burial service.

Dates

Creation: 1944-1948
Other: Majority of material found within 1944-1945
Other: Date acquired: 07/05/2009
Other: Date accessioned: 2020-04-21

Creator

Bush, Katherine (Person)
Rowland G. Bush (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open to all researchers.

Conditions Governing Use

All requests for permission to quote, publish, broadcast or otherwise reproduce from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Associate Dean for Special Collections & Archives. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the Florida State University Libraries as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the researcher.

Biographical or Historical Information

Rowland G. Bush was born on April 15, 1910, in Denver, Colorado. He enlisted in the United States Army on December 1, 1942, and he became a Technician 5th Grade of the medical unit. He was a member of the Medical Detachment of the 413th Infantry Regiment of the 104th Division also known as the Timberwolf Division. The 104th landed in France on September 7, 1944. On October 23, the Division arrived in Wuustwezel to relieve the British 49th Division. On October 25, the 413th was moving toward Zundert, Holland through Terbeck and Heilbloom, Belgium when the company was met with heavy artillery, mortar, machine gun, and rifle fire. Bush left cover to administer first aid to the wounded. He was fatally wounded in the process. For his actions, he received a Silver Star and was also awarded a Purple Heart. Bush was originally buried in the Henri-Chapelle military cemetery in Belgium. His remains were returned to the United States and buried in the Golden Gate National Cemetery at his mother’s request.

Sources:

“Combat Chronicle of a Rifle Company.” 104th Infantry Division. Last modified June 27, 1999. http://www.104infdiv.org/chronicle.htm.

FindAGrave, “Rowland G Bush.” Find A Grave. Accessed February 9, 2018. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/3557500/rowland-g-bush