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. At some point, 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 and died on January 31, 1944. In an attempt to save Robert’s life, his pilot attempted an emergency landing at Carney Field on Guadalcanal. Robert was buried in the Guadalcanal Army, Navy and Marine Cemetery, Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands on February 1, 1944, in Plot B, Row 80, Grave 10.. His wife received a letter telling her where he was buried.
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 indicated she wanted him buried at the Soldiers Home National Cemetery, Washington DC. The Quartermaster Corps his wife that the Soldiers Home Cemetery and Arlington are 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.
