On this Memoria Day I thought it only fitting I post about my husband’s Great Uncle Buster. Buster was the youngest brother of Chris’ grandfather, Clifford Perry.
His portrait hangs in the living room of Chris’ mother to this day.
This story is from the fold3.com:
Forrest Hubert “Buster” Perry was born May 27, 1919 to Henry and Mattie Perry in Northwood, Worth County, Iowa. He was the youngest of 12 siblings and he lived in Northwood with his family until he enlisted. The US federal census of 1940 lists him residing at home and employed as the head cook at a CCC camp.
He enlisted in the US Navy July 9, 1940 at Des Moines, Iowa and was assigned service number 3214398. He completed his basic training at the Naval Training Station in Great Lakes, Illinois and arrived on board the USS Utah October 9, 1940. He was serving as a Ship’s Cook Third Class when he was killed in action on December 7, 1941 at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
Shortly after 8 am on December 7, 1941, a torpedo struck the port side of the USS Utah, a former battleship turned target ship (AG-16) moored at Berth FOX-11 in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Just before this hit, crew on board the USS Utah had sighted enemy aircraft and orders were given for all personnel to move to bombing quarters. The ship listed to port, and they felt a second hit in the same area as the first, which made the list worse. All personnel were ordered to the starboard side, awaiting imminent capsize. Those who made it to the upper decks abandoned ship under orders and had to deal with aerial bombardment from aircraft. At 8:12 am, the USS Utah had completely capsized as personnel made their way to Ford Island. When it was all over, 58 of the USS Utah’s crew lost their lives.
Forrest Hubert Perry is memorialized at Tablets of the Missing at Honolulu Memorial, Honolulu, Hawaii. This is an American Battle Monuments Commission location.
