Robert Eugene Bush Robert Eugene Bush ( October 4 , 1926 – November 8 , 2005 ) was a United States Navy Hospital Corpsman during World War II , who received the Medal of Honor , the United States highest award for gallantry , during the Battle of Okinawa . Early life . Born in Tacoma , Washington , Bush joined the Navy Hospital Corps in 1944 . He participated in the invasion of Okinawa and was wounded during an attack on a rifle company that he was on patrol with on May 2 , 1945 . At 18 years of age , for his gallantry at Okinawa , Bush was awarded the Medal of Honor by President Harry S . Truman in a White House ceremony on October 5 , 1945 . Postwar . After the war , he returned to finish high school and to marry his high school sweetheart , Wanda . He later studied business administration at the University of Washington . He founded the Bayview Lumber Company at South Bend , Washington in 1951 and Bayview Redi - Mix at Elma , WA , building both into multi - million dollar businesses . Former NBC News anchor Tom Brokaw wrote a chapter about Bush in his World War II book " The Greatest Generation " ( 1998 ) . As well as his business affairs , Bush was active in championing veterans ' causes , and served for a time as President of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society . He attended the inaugurations of every president since Dwight D . Eisenhower , excepting that of Lyndon B . Johnson , who didn ' t invite Medal of Honor recipients . He is not related to either President Bush . Robert and Wanda Bush were the parents of three sons and a daughter . He died from cancer on November 8 , 2005 , in Olympia , Washington , aged 79 . His wife predeceased him in 1999 , and a son , Larry , died in 1986 . At the time of his death he was survived by three children , eight grandchildren , and two great - grandchildren . He was buried in Fern Hill Cemetery , Menlo , Washington . Medal of Honor citation . Rank and organization : Hospital Apprentice First Class , U . S . Naval Reserve , serving as Medical Corpsman with a rifle company , 2d Battalion , 5th Marines , 1st Marine Division . Place and date : Okinawa Jima , Ryukyu Islands , May 2 , 1945 . Entered service at : Washington . Born : October 4 , 1926 , Tacoma , Wash . Citation : For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as Medical Corpsman with a rifle company , in action against enemy Japanese forces on Okinawa Jima , Ryukyu Islands , 2 May 1945 . Fearlessly braving the fury of artillery , mortar , and machinegun fire from strongly entrenched hostile positions , Bush constantly and unhesitatingly moved from one casualty to another to attend the wounded falling under the enemy ' s murderous barrages . As the attack passed over a ridge top , Bush was advancing to administer blood plasma to a marine officer lying wounded on the skyline when the Japanese launched a savage counterattack . In this perilously exposed position , he resolutely maintained the flow of life - giving plasma . With the bottle held high in one hand , Bush drew his pistol with the other and fired into the enemy ' s ranks until his ammunition was expended . Quickly seizing a discarded carbine , he trained his fire on the Japanese charging pointblank over the hill , accounting for six of the enemy despite his own serious wounds and the loss of one eye suffered during his desperate battle in defense of the helpless man . With the hostile force finally routed , he calmly disregarded his own critical condition to complete his mission , valiantly refusing medical treatment for himself until his officer patient had been evacuated , and collapsing only after attempting to walk to the battle aid station . His daring initiative , great personal valor , and heroic spirit of self - sacrifice in service of others reflect great credit upon Bush and enhance the finest traditions of the U . S . Naval Service . Other honors . The Robert E . Bush Naval Hospital in Twentynine Palms , California was named in his honor , as was the Bush Health Care Clinic , located at Camp Courtney , Okinawa , Japan . In 1998 , a monument depicting his actions on Okinawa was erected in a park named for him in his hometown of South Bend , Washington , which named a street after him as well . A Golden Palm Star on the Palm Springs Walk of Stars was dedicated to Bush for Veterans Day in 1999 , recognizing him as one of five Medal of Honor recipients from the Southern California desert area .