Sgt. Robert T. Budway was born on December 15, 1914, in Rochester, New York, to Gilbert J. Budway and Sarah Katherine Smith-Budway. With his sister and brother, he grew up at 7329 West Madison Street in Forest Park, Illinois, and graduated from the Grant-White School. He entered Proviso Township High School as a member of the class of 1934, but he left high school after his second year. This was confirmed in the 1940 census, but he later attended the University of Illinois for two years. He registered with Selective Service on October 16, 1940, when the draft act became law.
He was inducted into the US Army on June 2, 1942, in Chicago and his serial number was 16 096 502. It not known where he did his basic training, but because of his scores on the Army General Classification Test, he was assigned to the Army Air Corps and trained as a gunner. At some point, he trained at Bismarck Army Airfield in North Dakota. While there, he met his wife. All that is known is that her first name was Mary, and she resided in Belfield, North Dakota. When he completed his training, he was assigned to the 72nd Bombardment Squadron, 5th Bombardment Group, 13th Air Force, and assigned to a B-24 Liberator Bomber.
It is known that his unit was sent to Henderson Field in Hawaii before being sent to Guadalcanal. He flew missions from October 27, 1943 to November 12, 1943, in the Northern Solomon Islands. It was while he was on a mission over Rabaul, New Guinea, that he was hit by enemy fire. Records show he had a gun shot wound to the head. In an attempt to save Robert’s life, his pilot attempted an emergency landing at Carney Field on Guadalcanal. Robert died on January 31, 1944, and was buried in the Guadalcanal Army, Navy and Marine Cemetery, Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands on February 1, 1944. His wife learned of his death in a telegram that same month.
After the war, the Quartermaster Corps began consolidating cemeteries and Mary Budway received a letter from the Office of the Quartermaster General telling her where Mary was buried and the location of his grave in the cemetery.
24 October 1946
Mrs. Mary P. Budway
495 Witmer Street
Los Angeles, California
Dear Mrs. Budway:
The War Department is most desirous that you be furnished information regarding the burial location of your son, the late Sergeant Robert Budway, A.S.N. 36 096 502.
The records of this office disclose that his remains are interred in the U. S. Army, Navy, Marine Cemetery, plot B, row 80, grave 10. You may be assured that the identification and interment have been accomplished with dignity and solemnity.
This cemetery is located on Guadalcanal Island, Solomon Islands, and is under the constant care and supervision of the United States military personnel.
The War Department has now been authorized to comply, at Government expense, with the feasible wishes of the next of kin regarding final interment, here or abroad, of the remains of your loved one. At a later date, this office will, without any action on your part, provide the next of kin with full information and solicit his detailed desires.
Please accept my sincere sympathy in your great loss.
Sincerely yours,
(signed)
T. B. LARKIN
Major General
The Quartermaster General
After the war, the American Graves Registration Service started the process of exhuming graves and transferring the dead to one cemetery. In a letter dated June 26, 1947, his wife was informed on her options for Robert’s final burial. She was asked to fill-out and return an enclosed form to the Office of the Quartermaster General, Washington DC, indicating where she wanted Robert buried. The form was received by the OQMG on July 21, 1947, indicating his wife wanted Robert returned to the United States and buried at the Soldiers Home National Cemetery, Washington DC. The Quartermaster Corps informed his wife that the Soldiers Home Cemetery and Arlington were separate cemeteries and they believed she wanted him to buried in Arlington National Cemetery. Apparently, she agreed, and Sgt. Robert T. Budway was buried at Arlington National Cemetery on March 12, 1948, in Section 12, Site 2738.
Robert’s brother, George, was also in the 13th Air Force and survived his plane going down at sea.
