Background
John James Van Buren was born in Mukwonago, Wisconsin, on July 20, 1915.
John James Van Buren was born in Mukwonago, Wisconsin, on July 20, 1915.
He enlisted in the United States. Navy on March 24, 1938 and was appointed Aviation Cadet in the United States Naval Reserve on August 3, 1938. Upon completion of flight training, he was commissioned as an ensign on September 1, 1939 and assigned to Bombing Squadron 6 on board the aircraft carrier United States Ship Enterprise (CV-6). Through skillful handling of his Douglas SBD Dauntless dive bomber and excellent marksmanship, he shot down one of the attacking planes.
Upon again being attacked by an enemy fighter, he maneuvered his plane to permit his rear seat gunner to shoot down this attacker before landing his bullet-riddled plane on Enterprise.
Operating off of Enterprise with Bombing Squadron 6 during the Battle of Midway on June 4, 1942, Van Buren defied extreme danger from concentrated Japanese antiaircraft fire and fierce fighter opposition to take part in the initial dive-bombing attack against Japanese naval units. Van Buren"s plane did not return from this action and was listed as presumed dead.
The United States. Navy destroyer escort United States Ship Van Burean (Delaware-753), launched in 1944 but never completed, was named for Lieutenant, junior grade Van Buren.