Manny Bud, Artifacts from a Jewish Marine Fighting in the Pacific, WW II
The Highland Park Historical Society presents recollections of ‘Manny Bud, a Jewish Marine Fighting in the Pacific, WWII,” by Highland Park resident Joe Wallace on Thursday, July 19th at 7:00 PM at the Highland Park Library.
At a recent Pop Up Museum hosted by the Highland Park Historical Society, Joe Wallace brought a collection of artifacts from his friend Manny Bud. These were from Bud’s time in the Marines during World War Two and are destined for the National Museum of the Pacific War in Fredericksburg, TX.
Manny Bud (1921-2016) enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps on December 8, 1941. Less than one year later, he was serving as a Pioneer Marine on Guadalcanal. He saw heavy combat there but was able to return stateside. After further training on the mainland and Hawaii, Manny deployed to New Zealand for combat training in preparation for the invasion of Iwo Jima. Manny was on the invasion force of the 4th Marine Division, and on his sixteenth day of combat was leading his unit out of a bomb crater when he sustained injury from a shot by a Japanese sniper. He was evacuated, placed in a body cast, then transported to the Island of Guam and later to Naval Hospital, Great Lakes, Illinois, where he spent more than one year recuperating. His oral history on this period is available at the Pritzker Military Museum in Chicago.
In spite of his injuries, Manny had a successful career as a factory representative. Manny entered into eternal rest on November 4, 2016.
Joe Wallace’s association with Manny Bud began in 2007 with North Shore Post 29, Jewish War Veterans of the United States of America. Being the only other Marine in the post, they became fast friends. Their friendship continued to the time of Manny’s death. Manny had a great sense of humor. Wallace would often read to him from books because during their entire friendship, Manny was blind.
‘Manny Bud, a Jewish Marine Fighting in the Pacific, WWII,” will be at Highland Park Public Library Auditorium, 494 Laurel Avenue, Highland Park, Illinois. For further information, please contact the Highland Park Historical Society: 847.432.7090 or archives@highlandparkhistory.org. Admission is free.