WW2 Battle of Savo Island Fallen - Edward Buitenwert, USS Quincy

Seaman 2nd Class Edward Buitenwert was on the USS Quincy at the Battle of Savo Island.

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/79291325

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Quincy_(CA-39)

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sinking_of_the_USS_Quincy.jpg

Edward Francis Buitenwert never had a chance to reach 100 years old today. Instead, he sacrificed his life for our freedom.


Edward was born December 6, 1918 in Grand Haven, Michigan. His father Peter was born in Michigan to Dutch immigrants, his mother Florence was also born in Michigan. His father worked in a brass factory. Edward had two older sisters and 3 older brothers. I cannot locate him or his family in the 1940 census records.

Edward joined the US Navy Reserve on December 16, 1941 at Detroit, Michigan and in January 1942 was assigned as a Seaman Second Class aboard the heavy cruiser USS Quincy (CA-39). From January to March 1942, Quincy operated in convoy duty off Iceland, then returned to the States for an overhaul at the New York Navy Yard that lasted until the end of May, and then sailed for San Diego. 

In July, Quincy got underway for the South Pacific with other vessels assembling for the invasion of Guadalcanal, the first major American counteroffensive against the Japanese Empire. Prior to the Marine assault on Guadalcanal on 7 August, Quincy destroyed several Japanese installations and an oil depot during her bombardment of Lunga Point, and later provided close fire support for the Marines during the landing. 

In the early hours of August 9, Quincy and several other American cruisers were patrolling the channel between Florida Island and Savo Island, tasked to protect the northern approach to the Guadalcanal beachhead. In the pre-dawn darkness, the American ships were surprised to find themselves suddenly lit up by aerial flares and searchlights of an Imperial Japanese Navy task force of seven cruisers that were intent on destroying the American transports still unloading supplies for the Marine invasion force onto the beachhead. Within a few minutes, Quincy was caught in a vicious crossfire between three enemy cruisers and was set afire from multiple direct hits and torpedoes. The Quincy fought back valiantly, but less than an hour after the battle began the Quincy slipped beneath the waves, taking S2c Buitenwert and 369 of the 807 sailors and marines onboard to their deaths. A nice memorial video of the USS Quincy can be found here.

While it was a decisive tactical victory for the Japanese, the Battle of Savo Island was a strategic loss as the IJN task force, in fear of being discovered by American carrier aircraft upon daylight, withdrew without attacking the invasion transports, thus improving the American chances for victory on Guadalcanal. 


Edward Francis Buitenwert is memorialized at the Manila American Cemetery in the Philippines and at Lake Forest Cemetery in his home town Grand Haven, Michigan. Two of Edward’s brothers were also in the service during the war and both survived. 


Thank you Edward for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for Edward.
_____
This profile was written by Bob Fuerst. "I’m a NASA engineer, B-17 Flying Fortress enthusiast, and amateur genealogist so this kind of research is an ideal outlet for me. But more than anything, it’s a way to express my sincere appreciation for The Greatest Generation and the sacrifices that they made, especially those who made the ultimate sacrifice. They should never be forgotten and I’m grateful to Don for allowing me to play a small part in honoring them." 


Last year on this date I profiled PFC Nalty Keen of the 82nd Airborne Division. You can read about Nalty here.


On behalf of the fallen, if you would like to see more people become aware of this project to honor the WW2 fallen, be sure to share with others on Twitter, Facebook, etc. Thanks for your interest!

I created this video to explain why I started this project: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXt8QA481lY.


Follow on Twitter @ww2fallen100
Please consider joining the public Facebook group to increase the exposure of this project. Go to: WW2 Fallen 100

WW2 Fallen 100 is supported by

The Greatest GENERATIONS Foundation

“Where Every Day is Memorial Day”

http://www.tggf.org