Irv Saunders (left) of Laguna Woods, California and Vernon Buss of Portland.

Photo by Doug Beghtel, The Oregonian

Vernon Buss was honored on July 29, 2009 by U.S. Representative Darrell Issa (R-California) with a commendation read into the Congressional Record.  Corporal Vernon Buss, an aircraft mechanic and marine in WWII, was honored and commended for rescuing fellow Marine Staff Sergeant Irving Saunders on January 24, 1945 from an F4-U Corsair aircraft fire on an island in the Philippines. 

The commendation read, in part:

“With total disregard for his own safety, Corporal Buss rushed to the side of Staff Sergeant Irving Saunders and carried him away from the burning aircraft, the burning pools of gasoline and the random detonations of .50 caliber ammunition as it ‘cooked off’ from the Corsair’s burning ammunition supply.”

When Corporal Buss’ tour ended, he returned to Portland.  He worked in a rendering plant and then joined the Portland Fire Bureau where he worked for 31 years, retired at the rank of a Battalion Chief, and had a fireboat named after him. 

We are proud to stand alongside you Battalion Chief Buss!

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October 29, 2009