Charles Ray Buce

These awards are based on the information below and per applicable DoD Directives and Awards Manuals:
Purple Heart Medal 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.
American Campaign Service Medal Awarded to Service members serving outside the Continental United States in the American Theater for at least 30 days between December 7, 1941 and March 2, 1946, or who served during that period for an aggregate period of 1 year in the Continental United States.
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 that this list may not include all awarded medals, devices, unit citations or qualification badges.

Documents, Forms and Resources Found or Not Found:
Yes Application For Headstone or Marker, OQMG Form 623
Yes Enlistment Records National Archives Database, on this page
No  Eyewitness Statement or Report
Yes Grave Marker Photo, Find A Grave
No Official Regiment or Division After Action Report
No  Photo of veteran
No  Washington Newspaper Obit, Notice, or Report
Yes WWII Draft Card Data PFC Buce, on this page
Yes WWII Hospital Admission Records, Hospital Records, on this page

WWII Draft Card Data
Charles Ray Buce
White, Male, Age: 18
Birth Date: July 7, 1926
Birth Place: Siloam Spring, Arkansas
Residence Place: Walla Walla, Walla Walla County, Washington
Registration Date: July 7, 1944
Registration Place: Washington State
Employer: Joe Merrill
Height: 6' 1/2"   -  Weight: 166
Eye Color: Brown, Hair Color: Brown
Complexion: Ruddy
Next of Kin: C. A. Bruce
Members of Household: Charles Ray Buce, Self

WWII Hospital Admission Records
Charles R. Buce,
Service Number: 39524260
Rank: Enlisted Man (includes Aviation Cadet or Student)
Race: White, includes Mexican (White)
Admission Age: 19
Birth Date: About 1926
Admission Date: May 1945
Discharge Date: May 1945
Discharge Place: Not in Medical Installation Prior to Death
Military Branch: Infantry, General or Unspecified
Military Unit: 0
Diagnosis: Wound(s), perforating, points of entrance and exit
Causative Agent: Bullet, or Small Arms
Type of Injury:
Injury Type 1: Casualty, battle
Injury Type 2: All battle casualties, and all battle injuries not intentionally inflicted by self or another person
Length of service: 6-12 months
Notes: None

Note 1, Death Location: "On Luzon Island, Philippines" is based on the best information available at this time. In the case of PFC Buce, this location was estimated on:

A. His OQMC Form 623, Application For Headstone or Marker, identifies his assigned unit as to Company B, 27th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division and date of death as May 30, 1945.

B. At the time PFC Buce was Killed In Action the 25th Infantry Division was conducting combat operations on Luzon Philippines during May 1945.

C. Hospital Admission Records indicate that PFC Buce was "Not in Medical Installation Prior to Death" and post mortem examination found a "Bullet" wound, perforating, points of entrance and exit.

D. Further information on the history and service of the 25th Infantry Division can be found at the Wikipedia website 25th Infantry Division.

Anyone with additional information or 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)

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