Personal Narrative Manuscript/Mixed Material Photo, Print, Drawing Software, E-Resource Audio Recording Kermit A. Bushur Collection
Veterans History Project Service Summary:
- War or Conflict: World War, 1939-1945
- Branch of Service: Army
- Unit of Service: Khaki Combat Team, 3rd Battalion, 5307th Composite Unit (Provisional) (Merrill's Marauders); 20th General Hospital
- Location of Service: Bombay, India; Calcutta, India; China-Burma-India (CBI) Theater; Scott Field, Illinois; Camp Joseph T. Robinson, Little Rock, Arkansas; Miami, Florida; Camp Shelby, Mississippi
- Highest Rank: Private
- Collection Number: AFC/2001/001/29937
Kermit Bushur had an identity problem that nagged him throughout World War II-and likely saved his life. His draft board turned him down several times, granting him exemptions he didn't want, so he finally requested voluntary induction. He missed his outfit's departure for the European Theater and was thrown in with another unit headed for India. His papers were lost when a transport ship carrying him was sunk. Arriving in India with no orders, he was assigned to pick up corpses (a famine was sweeping the country) for funeral pyres. Volunteering for what was described as a hazardous mission, he soon found himself part of Merrill's Marauders, the composite unit of guerrillas sent into Burma to harass the Japanese. He would later learn that his original company was almost completely wiped out on the beaches of Normandy.
Kermit A. Bushur Collection
Interview / Recording
Transcript
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PlayVolunteering for a dangerous mission, which turned out to be Merrill's Marauders. His squad was assigned dirty work; his leader was a convicted murderer given a release to combat with no training; how they came to be named Merrill's Marauders. 00:15:31.8 - 00:19:21.8
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PlayHis short career as a muleskinner. 00:19:30.4 - 00:21:40.8
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PlayCombat action at Walawbum; a birthday bath interrupted; dodging the Japanese in the aftermath; discovering the enemy was firing artillery from the backs of elephants; wounded during action on April 4; evacuated by plane in a confined takeoff area. 00:23:21.1 - 00:31:27.8
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Kermit A. Bushur Collection
Interview / Recording
Transcript
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PlayTreated at an aid station by a doctor who wrote a book about his experiences; documenting Bushur's treatment confirmed he was a member of the Marauders, since he had no records. 00:00:33.4 - 00:05:05.8
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PlayAfter a Nisei interpreter tapped a phone line to spy on the Japanese, they avoided an ambush; Japanese using their dogs to locate them, and the Marauders countering to avoid giving away their location; General Merrill sending him home. 00:09:18.8 - 00:17:07.5
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PlaySympathetic to American troops in Vietnam, because the Marauders as guerrillas operated in a similar fashion to that of the Vietcong. 00:19:55.3 - 00:20:42.2
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About this Item
Title
- Kermit A. Bushur Collection
Names
- Bushur, Kermit A.
- Schneider, Carrie
- Merrill's Marauders Association
- Piazza, Philip B.
Home State
- Florida
Headings
- - Bushur, Kermit A.
- - World War, 1939-1945 -- Personal Narratives
- - United States. Army.
Repository
- Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress
Gender
- Male
Status
- veteran
Service History
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World War, 1939-1945
- Branch of Service: Army
- Unit of Service: Khaki Combat Team, 3rd Battalion, 5307th Composite Unit (Provisional) (Merrill's Marauders); 20th General Hospital
- Location of Service: Bombay, India; Calcutta, India; China-Burma-India (CBI) Theater; Scott Field, Illinois; Camp Joseph T. Robinson, Little Rock, Arkansas; Miami, Florida; Camp Shelby, Mississippi
- Highest Rank: Private
- Dates of Service: 1943-1945
- Entrance into Service: Enlisted
- Military Status: veteran
Materials
- Manuscript: Transcript [1 item] -- Transcription of audio recording (collected 2008-01-09)
- Computer File: CD [1 item] -- Electronic file of manuscript (collected 2008-01-09; 2008-01-09)
- Photograph: Digital print [4 items] -- Photograph (collected 1945)
- Manuscript: Memoirs [1 item] -- (collected unknown)
- Manuscript: Clippings [2 items] -- Typewritten document (collected 2000)
- Manuscript: Correspondence [1 item] -- (collected 2002)
- Manuscript: Military papers (orders, personnel/201 files, etc) [3 items] -- (collected 1945)
- Manuscript: Creative works [1 item] -- (collected 2003)
- Audio: Audio Cassette [1 item] -- Oral history interview (collected 2005-08-27)
- Audio: CD [1 item] -- Reference copy (collected 2005-08-27; 2007-10-31)
Collection Number
- AFC/2001/001/29937
Cite as
- Kermit A. Bushur Collection (AFC/2001/001/29937), Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress
Online Format
- audio
- image
- online text
Additional Metadata Formats
IIIF Presentation Manifest
Part of
Wars & Conflicts
Service Branch
Location of Service
- Bombay, India
- Calcutta, India
- Camp Joseph T. Robinson, Little Rock, Arkansas
- Camp Shelby, Mississippi
- China-Burma-India (CBI) Theater
- Miami, Florida
- Scott Field, Illinois
Service Unit
- 20th General Hospital
- 3rd Battalion
- 5307th Composite Unit (Provisional) (Merrill's Marauders)
- Khaki Combat Team