Gerald Ade "Bud" Turner was born March 5, 1915, in Brook Indiana. His father, Nason "Frenchie" Turner, was a barber and part-time bartender, and a golf pro during summers. His mother Florance ran the dinning room and kitchen at the Country Club. Bud developed a life long love for the game of golf.
In High School Bud played Basketball. He Lettered in the sport in 1932, 1933 and 1934. In 1933 and 1934 his team made the Sectional Regional's, big news for a small town.
On June 7, 1934 Bud joined the US Marine Corps at Chicago IL., and went through Boot Camp at Parris Island, SC. Platoon 34, was the last 90 day training platoon in the Old Corps. He moved to Sea School (90 days), in Philadelphia, PA. in September. He signed aboard the USS Arizona at Norfolk VA. in December, joining the Marine Detachment. You can read about his time aboard the USS ARIZONA elsewhere on the site.
Later in 1937, Bud was transferred to San Diego, and served as Orderly to Gen. Beaumont, until his discharge in June of 1938.
In September of 1938 he re-enlisted, in Chicago again, and was sent to the Marine Detachment, Naval Prison, Mare Island, CA. There he served as a rifle coach, and prisoner chaser for the next 8 1/2 months.
March of 1939 found Bud in Armorer School, at Philadelphia, PA (a 9 month school). Here he met and began what became a life-long friendship with Louis E. "Peep Sight" Duncan. After completion of this school he was ordered to Peking, China. Traveling by ship from Philadelphia to Long Beach; then by train to San Francisco. Finally boarding ship to Shanghai. Upon arrival at Shanghai (JAN/FEB 1940), Bud was reassigned to the First Battalion, Fourth Marine as the Battalion Armorer, and later as Regimental Armorer, Service Company, Fourth Marines. (Sandy, your Dad arrived in July of 1940. He was assigned to "D" Company, 1st Battalion, originally. Moved up to HQ 1st BN Armor when my Dad moved up to Regimental Armor (Spring of 1941). They took different routs to China and moved at different times.)
He remained in Shanghai until Thanksgiving, 1941. He then moved with the Regiment, aboard the USS Harrison, to Olongapo in the Philippines, arriving on December 2, 1941.
1:30 am, Monday, December 8, 1941 (7:30 am, Sunday, December 7th at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii) found Bud and his friends at Olongapo, PI. They moved to Mariveles on December 23, and then December 31, on to Corregidor Island. They defended the Rock until May 6, 1942. (Sandy, your Dad had his 1st Battalion weapons repair shop inside Malinta Tunnel. Just inside according to Dad, near the front of the first lateral.)
Held by the Japanese, first at Cabannatuan, he was then moved to Neilson Field. Later he was held at Zablon Field and Fort McKinley, before being sent to Bilibid, in September 1944. At Bilibid he, along with many others, was placed aboard ship for the main islands of Japan. In Japan, he dug coal a few miles northeast of Hiroshima.
On September 13, 1945, a month after the surrender of Japan, Bud and his friends were ordered out of the camp, and proceeded to Wakayama. There they were processed, placed aboard ship, and began the slow trip back to the United States.
They arrived back in the US at San Diego, shortly before Thanksgiving Day.
