GyBill
06-28-2009, 03:10 PM
Walter E. Bussey, Sergeant Major, USMC, Ret., 81, Ruskin, Florida
Born February 4, 1923 in Boston, Massachusetts passed away February 23, 2004.
Enlisted in the Marine Corps at the age of 18. After recruit training at San Diego, was assigned to Aviation Machinists Mate School at Navy Pier in Chicago. Graduating with honors, he was meritoriously promoted to corporal. In the Fall of 1942 he joined
VMF-112. After his squadron was relieved at Guadalcanal, he spent five months in a U.S. Hospital for treatment of Malaria. Following recovery, returned to Midway Island for duty with VMF-324. Post war assignments included MCAS Cherry Point and various carrier duty assignments in the Mediterranean. During the Korean War, MSgt Bussey served as engineering chief with VMC-1, an electronics countermeasure squadron. In July of 1953 he was transferred to Japan for duty as leading chief with Marine Helicopter Squadron 163.
Promoted to First Sergeant in 1957, he accompanied VMF-333 to MCAS Beaufort, South Carolina as engineering chief. In 1958, he was promoted to Sergeant Major, assuming duty as station Sergeant Major at MCAS Beaufort.
In 1962 he was assigned duty as Sergeant Major at the Marine Barracks in Subic Bay, Republic of the Philippines. In 1964, Sergeant Major Bussey joined the 3rd Battalion, Seventh Marines in Vietnam where he participated in the first all-Marine offensive against the Viet Cong force at the Marine enclave at Chu Lai, Republic of Vietnam.
On July 15, 1966, Sergeant Major Bussey assumed duties as Sergeant Major, Marine Corps Recruiting Station in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He was transferred to the Fleet Marine Corps Reserves on August 31, 1968 and placed on the retired list March 1, 1972.
He was a member of St John the Divine Episcopal Church, Ruskin, Florida for 22 years, Mahi Shriners, Miami, Florida, Doric Lodge 568 of North Carolina, Perpetual Member of Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, and The Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 14000.
He is survived by his wife of 60 years Audrey (Bayer) Bussey, two daughters, Linda (Carmine) Roberto of Montgomery, Alabama, and Susan (Jerry) Stanley of Lutz, Florida, and one brother Henry (Lila) Bussey of Vero Beach, Florida.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions be made to the Marine Military Academy, 320 Iwo Jima Blvd., Harbingen, Tx 88550, St. John the Divine Episcopal Church Memorial Fund or the Shriners Organization.
A memorial service will be held at St. John the Divine Episcopal Church, 815 College Avenue East (674), Ruskin, Florida at 11:00 AM, Friday, February 27, 2004. Inurnment will be at Arlington National Cemetery, May 17, 2004.
Born February 4, 1923 in Boston, Massachusetts passed away February 23, 2004.
Enlisted in the Marine Corps at the age of 18. After recruit training at San Diego, was assigned to Aviation Machinists Mate School at Navy Pier in Chicago. Graduating with honors, he was meritoriously promoted to corporal. In the Fall of 1942 he joined
VMF-112. After his squadron was relieved at Guadalcanal, he spent five months in a U.S. Hospital for treatment of Malaria. Following recovery, returned to Midway Island for duty with VMF-324. Post war assignments included MCAS Cherry Point and various carrier duty assignments in the Mediterranean. During the Korean War, MSgt Bussey served as engineering chief with VMC-1, an electronics countermeasure squadron. In July of 1953 he was transferred to Japan for duty as leading chief with Marine Helicopter Squadron 163.
Promoted to First Sergeant in 1957, he accompanied VMF-333 to MCAS Beaufort, South Carolina as engineering chief. In 1958, he was promoted to Sergeant Major, assuming duty as station Sergeant Major at MCAS Beaufort.
In 1962 he was assigned duty as Sergeant Major at the Marine Barracks in Subic Bay, Republic of the Philippines. In 1964, Sergeant Major Bussey joined the 3rd Battalion, Seventh Marines in Vietnam where he participated in the first all-Marine offensive against the Viet Cong force at the Marine enclave at Chu Lai, Republic of Vietnam.
On July 15, 1966, Sergeant Major Bussey assumed duties as Sergeant Major, Marine Corps Recruiting Station in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He was transferred to the Fleet Marine Corps Reserves on August 31, 1968 and placed on the retired list March 1, 1972.
He was a member of St John the Divine Episcopal Church, Ruskin, Florida for 22 years, Mahi Shriners, Miami, Florida, Doric Lodge 568 of North Carolina, Perpetual Member of Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, and The Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 14000.
He is survived by his wife of 60 years Audrey (Bayer) Bussey, two daughters, Linda (Carmine) Roberto of Montgomery, Alabama, and Susan (Jerry) Stanley of Lutz, Florida, and one brother Henry (Lila) Bussey of Vero Beach, Florida.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions be made to the Marine Military Academy, 320 Iwo Jima Blvd., Harbingen, Tx 88550, St. John the Divine Episcopal Church Memorial Fund or the Shriners Organization.
A memorial service will be held at St. John the Divine Episcopal Church, 815 College Avenue East (674), Ruskin, Florida at 11:00 AM, Friday, February 27, 2004. Inurnment will be at Arlington National Cemetery, May 17, 2004.