Bennie Maurice Bunn, World War II CasualtyPorter County Data on World War II Casualties . . . .
Bennie Maurice Bunn
First Lieutenant, Company B, 1st Raider Battalion, US Marine Corps
Date of Death: July 10, 1943
Burial: Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery (Section M, Site 224), San Diego,
California
Cause of Death: Killed in Action (New Georgia Island, Solomon Islands)
Awards: Distinguished Service Cross, Navy Cross, Expeditionary Medal, Medal of
Merit
Hometown: Valparaiso
Newspaper Notices:
South Pacific Marine Camp Is Named For War Hero Son Of Local Woman
Somewhere in the South Pacific where marine raiders are trained for jungle
warfare against the Japs is Camp Bunn.
It is named in honor of Lieutenant Bennie C. Bunn, son of Mrs. Florence M.
Wayne, 302 Jefferson street, Valparaiso. Lt. Bunn was killed in action July 10,
1943 on New George Island in the British Solomon group.
Word of the high honor accorded he son has been received by Mrs. Wayne from
Lieut. Bunn's wife, Mrs. Mercedes C. Bunn of Los Angeles, Calif. She was
apprised of the news by Lt. Col. L. W. Nickerson, USMC.
The action was taken by officers and men of Lieut. Bunn's command in honor of
the courageous conduct in the battle in which he paid the supreme sacrifice, Lt.
Col. Nickerson said.
It was while leading a sortie of the First Marine raiders in the battle of
Enogal, above Munda, that Lt. Bunn lost his life.
According to an official report of the skirmish, Japanese machine gunners were
dug in at the top of a coral bluff and U. S. Marine Raiders were being thrown
back repeatedly with heavy losses trying to take the position.
Though not under orders to advance against the strongly intrenched Japs, Lt.
Bunn, veteran of 16 years, took some grenades and a tommy gun, and telling the
other men to cover him as best they could, climbed straight up the slippery
bluff.
Half way up a Jap bullet clipped him, and by the time he reached the top he was
wounded many times. But his tommy gun and grenades took that position.
His body was carried down the slope by comrades and he was interred in a grave
in the military cemetery in the locality where death occurred.
Lt. Bunn was a marine for 17 years. He was a member of the Marine Patrol in
Nicarauga in 1932; served with the Leathernecks in Shanghai, China, and was
aboard the USS Augusta when that vessel made her trial runs and shakedown
cruise.
He was awarded the Navy Cross while fighting bandits in Nicarauga, for breaking
up an attack single-handed. Grabbing a Thompson sub-machine gun from a native
soldier he walked into the attacking force punctuating his advance with well
directed outbursts of fire. Then of the 46 bandits were killed and the rest
broke and ran. He also held the Expeditionary Medal and Medal of Merit.
Lt. Bunn was an expert rifle shot and in Marine Corps rifle matches held at Camp
Perry, Ohio, ranked sixth among 982 contestants.
Mrs. Wayne also has a grandson, Pfc. Evan Bunn, in the Marine service. He was
stationed in the Philippines, and was captured at Corregidor when that American
stronghold capitulated to the Japanese. He is now a prisoner of war of the
Japanese.
[Note: Camp Bunn was located east of the railway near Tamiki Station in Tamaki,
North Island, New Zealand, now a suburb of the city of Auckland. The camp was a
motor vehicle and military supply dump, which doubled as a place where soldiers
could rest between duties. At the end of the war there was a housing shortage in
New Zealand, so Camp Bunn became a transitional camp for the temporary homeless
and for families waiting for a state house. The Camp was closed in 1961.]
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Source: The Vidette-Messenger, Valparaiso, Porter County, Indiana; April 6, 1944; Volume 17, Page 1, Columns
1 to 3
Award Citations
Distinguished Service Cross
Awarded for actions during the World War II
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress,
July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross
(Posthumously) to First Lieutenant Bennie M. Bunn (MCSN: 0-212871), United
States Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism while serving with the FIRST
Marine Raider Battalion in action against the enemy on New Georgia Island,
British Solomon Islands, on 10 July 1943. When the leading assault elements of
his company were held up by a strong enemy position, the defense of which was
built around one heavy and three light machine guns supported by riflemen,
Lieutenant Bunn, calling to four Marines near him, led a charge to a position
close to the heavy machine gun. With grenades and pistol fire he killed the crew
and captured the gun. He then turned the captured weapon against the other
machine guns and neutralized their fire so effectively that they were quickly
captured by the members of his squad. His bold and rapid action completely
disorganized the enemy position and permitted the company to continue its
advance.
Service: Marine Corps
Rank: First Lieutenant
Navy Cross
Awarded for actions during the Second Nicaraguan Campaign
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting
the Navy Cross to Corporal Bennie M. Bunn (MCSN: 212871), United States Marine
Corps, for extraordinary heroism while a member of a patrol of Guardia Nacional
in contact with a bandit group at Punta Rieles, Nicaragua, on 26 December 1932.
The patrol while on a train proceeding to El Sauce was attacked by a vastly
superior force of bandits. Corporal Bunn, in command of the right flank, met an
enveloping attack of the heavily reinforced bandit group, armed himself with a
Thompson sub-machine gun, and by the effectiveness of his fire, personal
bravery, aggressiveness and skillful leadership, repulsed the attack. During the
entire engagement his conduct was outstanding, and beyond the ordinary call of
duty. His efficient leadership and courageous action contributed largely to the
success of the engagement.
Service: Marine Corps
Rank: Corporal
Return to
List of
Porter County World War II Casualties
Information abstracted and transcribed by Steven R. Shook