From the USNA "Class of 1940"
Bud reported to USS ARIZONA upon graduation. Fortunately on Pearl Harbor Day, Bud was ashore or this biography would probably have ended at this point. He was then sent to the staff of Patrol Wing Two stationed at Ford Island. After five months enjoyable duty with the aviators, he was ordered back to work as turret 3 officer in ALABAMA being fitted out in the Norfolk Navy Yard. In the spring of 1943, ALABAMA operated in the North Atlantic between Scapa Flow and Iceland. That fall, the Big "A" joined the Pacific Fleet and saw action in every campaign up to Okinawa, at which time she was ordered back to Bremerton for much needed repairs. On the homeward voyage, Bud, then a LCDR, was made main battery officer. On the return trip, he received orders to the staff of COMBATDIV 2 as Operations Officer. At the end of the war, Bud resigned because of "unsat" vision.

Upon returning to his home, a seashore resort on the Jersey coast known as Manasquan, Bud started a lumber business. He was fortunate in getting in on the ground floor of a building boom but after that had to work for a living.

Life in Manasquan has probably not been as dramatic and exciting as a career would have been in the Navy, but there were many good points that must be considered. The town has a wonderful country club, is on the ocean, and has a beautiful river (the northern terminal of the Inland Waterway).

The oldest son, Doug, has taken over the lumber business and his grandfather's fuel oil business and has done an outstanding job. Among other things he has presented the Schafers with a wonderful grandson, Garrett The second son, Scott, now a doctor, is married and doing exceedingly well in his fellowship for cardiology at the Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia.

Bud managed to keep busy in local organizations as the first president of the Naval Academy Alumni Association, past president of the Navy League, and as appraiser and director of the Manasquan Savings & Loan.

The Schafers now reside at ****, "Boxwood," where Bud's love of the sea can be satisfied with a walk on the boardwalk and a dip in the Atlantic. A sincere invitation by Bud and his good wife, Ruth, is extended to all hands of '40' to stop in and enjoy the pleasures of the Jersey Coast.

Bud was born and raised in Manasquan New Jersey, graduated from Manasquan High School 1935 and spent his working years running the family business, H. L. Schafer Coal & Lumber, later to be called Schafer Oil. Bud & Ruth had two boys Doug and Scott and have three grandsons (Garrett, Dylan & Colin Schafer)

Bud currently resides in Maine with his wife, Ruth.

Return to Survivor Stories Index