Buner Glenn Cruce

These awards are based on the information below and per applicable DoD Directives and Awards Manuals:
Bronze Star Awarded to any person who, while serving in any capacity in the Armed Forces of the United States after 6 December 1941, distinguished himself or herself by heroic or meritorious achievement or service, not involving participation in aerial flight, in connection with military operations against an armed enemy. This award to PFC Cruce was identified by the American Battle Monuments Commission.
Purple Heart Awarded to any member of the Armed Forces of the United States who, while serving under competent authority in any capacity with one of the U.S. Armed Forces, after April 5, 1917, has been wounded, killed, or who has died or may hereafter die of wounds received in action against an enemy of the United States. This award to PFC Cruce was identified by the American Battle Monuments Commission.
American Campaign Service Medal Awarded for military service within the American Theater between December 7, 1941 and March 2, 1946.
Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal Awarded for military service with the Asiatic-Pacific Theater between December 7, 1941 and March 2, 1946.
World War II Victory Medal Awarded for military service between December 7, 1941 and December 31, 1946, both dates inclusive.

Note 1: The death location, "Pacific - New Guinea" is based on the following sources:

A. ABMC and the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) data verify he was assigned to Company C, 186th Infantry Regiment, 41st Infantry Division, Pacific Theater of Operations.

B. US Army historical records verify that the 186th Infantry Regiment, 41st Infantry Division was conducting defensive operations on New Guinea during April 1944.

C. The ABMC lists PFC Cruce as "Missing In Action", his Date of Death as April 24, 1944 and he is Memorialized on the Walls of the Missing at the Manila American Cemetery.

D. The DPAA lists PFC Cruce as "Not Recovered Following WWII" and identify his last known location as New Guinea.

E. A Casualty Code of "DOW - Died of Wounds, Army personnel who were wounded in action and later died of those wounds." This would indicate that a wounded Soldier had received some level of treatment from medical personnel before death.

F. There are no military records currently available that corroborate how long PFC Cruce survived after being wounded in action. Based on this unknown information, a span of days or weeks could significantly change the estimated location of his death.

Anyone with a more specific location is welcomed and encouraged to submit an email to: ww2updates@withmilitaryhonors.com.

The following information on this casualty is sourced from The National Archives Database:
 Electronic Army Serial Number Merged File, ca. 1938 - 1946 (Enlistment Records) - See Note 2

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Note 2. Information is sourced from the public domain and may be copied and distributed without permission.