Home
What's New
Search Engine
Archives
Odyssey
Photo Gallery
Unit History
Unit Honors
TAPS
Voices Of Past
F&F Association
How To Submit

 
JAMES A. BUSSARD
JAMES A; BUSSARD, 62, 2431 Kingsland Ave., Orlando, died Tuesday. Born in Marlinton, W.Va., he moved to Orlando from South Carolina in 1966. He was retired from the Army. He was a member of the 82nd Airborne Division, Orlando All Airborne Chapter, and VFW Post 4305, Winter Garden. Survivors: wife, Annie M.; sons, Robert, Augusta, Ga.; daughter, Sherry New Orleans; brothers, William, Mack, both of Orlando; sister, Beatrice Newman, San Diego; two grandchildren. Woodlawn Funeral Home, Orlando.
   Funeral services for James A Bussard win be held Friday, June 8 at 2:00 P M at Woodlawn Funeral Home with Rev. Doug King officiating. Friends may call at Woodlawn Funeral Home on Thursday from 7:00-9 00 p.m.

[The Orlando Sentinel, Orlando, FL, 07 Jun 1990, Thu, Page 48]


[courtesy of  Laura Goodman]

Grave marker for James A. Bussard in Woodlawn Memorial Park, Gotha (Orange county), Florida

James registered for the draft in Marlinton (Pocahontas county), West Virginia prior to entering the U.S. Navy where he served during WWII.  He was discharged from the Navy on 30 January 1946.  His draft record was updated on 5 February 1946 to reflect that prior service.

James enlisted in the U.S. Navy on 15 December 1942.

Seaman 2nd Class Bussard first appears in Navy Muster Rolls on 18 July 1943 as a passenger and member of the "Amphibious Forces, North African Waters" aboard  the USS Gheradi (DD 637), a Gleaves-class destroyer,.  It is unclear what his role was.


USS Gheradi (DD 637),

He was later transferred to Pacific duty serving on the USS Ganymede (AK-104)


USS Ganymede (AK-104)]

The USS Ganymede (AK-104) was launched on 8 June 1943. She transported military cargo and provided limited passenger service from ports of Australia to bases in New Guinea, including Humboldt Bay, Milne Bay, Cape Sudest and Terahmerah Bay. Her itinerary was expanded in February 1945 to include Leyte, Manila, Subic Bay and Samar in the Philippines, with occasional calls at Manus, Admiralty Islands. Ganymede continued her busy Australia-New Guinea-Philippines-Australia supply circuit until 20 November when she departed Brisbane, Australia, for the U.S. arriving at San Francisco on 18 December. [Naval History and Heritage Command]

When the Ganymede docked in San Francisco on that final voyage, S2C Bussard was discharged (see entry for line 18 and subsequent comment for that same line number)

 

 

On 27 March 1947, James enlisted in the U.S. Army and volunteered for parachutist duty.  Upon completion of jump school he was assigned to the 508th ARCT and took part in the Operation Gyroscope deployment to Japan.  Where he was met by his wife Allene (see article, at right).

SFC Bussard retired from the Army on 30 September 1966.

[The Oregonian, Portland, OR, Sun, Jul 17, 1955, Page 3][

Copyright and all other rights reserved by the Family and Friends of The 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment Association or by those who are otherwise cited,
For problems or questions regarding this web site, please contact
Jumpmaster.