Norman Alfred Buan (1916 - 1943)

Born 26 Jun 1916 in Saskatchewan, Canada

Died 20 Nov 1943 at age 27 in Tarawa, Gilbert Islands, Kiribati

Pfc. Norman Buan was Killed in Action during World War II.

Biography

PFC Buan, United States Marine Corps, is a Missing in Action from the Battle of Tarawa & one of 510 missing heroes for which we did extensive research to help find and return home. If you are a family member, please feel free to contact our charitable foundation as we have a great deal of information that we would like to share with you. There is absolutely no charge for our services. The Chief Rick Stone Family Foundation www.ChiefRickStone.com

Norman Albert Buan was born June 26, 1916 at homestead 1-6-18-2 to Albert Buan and Annie Mabel Moyen.^[1]

Infant Norman (1 month at the time of Census) was living with his parents Albert and Annie Buan on their farm near Weyburn. Both his parents and his one-year-old sister, Edna, had been born in the United States.^[2]

In 1921 the family, now 3 children, was farming at Brokenshell near Weyburn, Saskatchewan.^[3]

Based on the birth of siblings, the Buan family moved to Minnesota about 1925. On the 1930 Census, 13-year-old Norman was living with his parents and 4 siblings were on a rented farm in Little Sauk, Minnesota.^[4]

In 1940 Norman was single and farming on his own on Township Road in Little Suak Township.^[5]

Noman enlisted with the US Marine Corps on November 24, 1942.^[6] A recipient of the Purple Heart, Norman went missing on November 20, 1943. ^[7]

It was November 20, 1943 (D-Day of the "Battle of Tarawa"), when Norman - just 27 years old - perished. He was reportedly buried in Red Beach 2 Cemetery on Betio Island - a temporary location until the Fallen could be recovered and returned to their families.

Norman was finally returned to his family and, on May 23, 2020, laid to rest at Long Bridge Lutheran Church Cemetery, in Little Sauk, Minnesota. ^[8][9]

Sources

1. ↑ eHealth Saskatchewan Genealogy Research Index accessed 03-24-2021 Certificate No 9633 Link to Search
2. ↑ "Canada, Prairie Provinces Census, 1916," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KM57-LSW : 23 February 2021), Norman Buan in household of Albert Buan, Saskatchewan, Canada; citing p. 20, line 46; Library and Archives Canada, Ottawa, Ontario; FHL microfilm 2,434,961.
3. ↑ *1921 Census of Canada: Reference Number: RG 31; Folder Number: 163; Census Place: 163, Weyburn, Saskatchewan; Page Number: 4 Ancestry Record 8991 #6649674
4. ↑ "United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X3DT-2B1 : accessed 24 March 2021), Norman A Buan in household of Albert H Buan, Little Sauk, Todd, Minnesota, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 24, sheet 5A, line 34, family 77, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 1132; FHL microfilm 2,340,867.
5. ↑ "United States Census, 1940," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KSLQ-FPJ : 12 February 2020), Norman A Buan, Little Sauk Township, Todd, Minnesota, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 77-24, sheet 10A, line 15, family 179, Sixteenth Census of the United States, 1940, NARA digital publication T627. Records of the Bureau of the Census, 1790 - 2007, RG 29. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2012, roll 1964.
6. ↑ U.S., Marine Corps Muster Rolls, 1798-1958: The National Archives at Washington, DC. USA; Series: Navy Muster Rolls, 1939-1949; National Archives Publication: Ship Muster Rolls; Record Group Title: Records of the Bureau of Naval Personnel; Record Group Number: 24 Ancestry Record 1089 #16969696
7. ↑ U.S., World War II, and Korean Conflict Veterans Interred Overseas: National Archives and Records Administration. U.S., World War II and Korean Conflict Veterans Interred Overseas [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2000. Original data: National Archives and Records Administration. Register, World War II Dead Interred in American Military Cemeteries on Foreign Soil and World War II and Korea Missing or Lost or Buried at Sea. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration. Ancestry Record 4283 #17658
8. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 24 March 2021), memorial page for PFC Norman Alfred Buan (26 Jun 1916–20 Nov 1943), Find A Grave: Memorial #204527215, citing Long Bridge Lutheran Church Cemetery, Little Sauk, Todd County, Minnesota, USA ; Maintained by JSMorrison (contributor 47978427) Burial Details Unknown.
9. ↑ Dairyland Peach, May 19, 2020 Obituary of Norman Buan Obituary

• Find A Grave: Memorial #56116635