Buss, the Emperor and Jackie, a WWII Pacific War Memoir

By Bob and Nancy Kerstetter—A story emerging from letters and diaries, plus original research into the plaited political, cultural and technological histories of Japan and America. (Richardson, Texas: Village Hiker Press, 2011, Illustrations.)

Buss, the Emperor and Jackie is a memoir of love disrupted by naval actions during the Pacific War—from the Solomon Islands to Wakayama, Japan.

Frustrated and motivated by the brutality of December 7, 1941, Buss enlisted in the U.S. Navy as a patriot, hoping to help quickly end the conflict. Instead—as a fire controlman for the main batteries and antiaircraft guns of the light cruiser USS Montpelier (CL-57)—the war kept him away for months, then years from Jackie his love.

His quick, abstract mind integrated smoothly with the requirements of his warrior work. Entering the war eager to engage the enemy, Buss sunk ships, blasted islands and shot down war planes in the South Pacific. Gung-ho during this first combat engagements, several human-to-human events touched his heart and altered his life forever.

From his letters, her diaries, interviews with his shipmates and other historical records, the story shows Buss and Jackie working to maintain life amid the incertitudes of war. The tale weaves in his personal view of America, the U.S. Navy, civilians, U.S. leaders and the Japanese, plus some amazing parallels between his life and that of Emperor Hirohita—the Showa Emperor.

Buss, the Emperor and Jackie is currently in production. A photographic summary of the Wakayama chapter was previewed during the final gathering of the USS Montpelier Association in Montpelier, Vermont, USA, June 30-July 5, 2010.