Machinist's Mate Arthur Lynn RUSH of Mount Ayr, Iowa, served during World War II with the U.S. Navy. Machinist's Mate RUSH was K.I.A. during the Battle of Tassafaronga, Guadalcanal, November 20, 1942. The ship "USS Northampton" (CA-26) was torpedoed by the Japanese destroyer "Oyashio" on November 20, 1942, and sank the following day. Machinist's Mate RUSH was survived by his wife, Mrs. Vivian Viola RUSH of Springfield, Missouri.

The Battle of Tassafaronga began 40 minutes before midnight on November 30, 1942, when three American destroyers made a surprise torpedo attack on the Japanese. All American ships then opened fire, which the startled enemy did not return for 7 minutes. Two of the American cruisers took torpedo hits within the space of a minute, and 10 minutes later, another was hit, all being forced to retire from the action. "USS Northampton" and "USS Honolulu", with 6 destroyers, continued the fierce action. Close to the end of the engagement, "USS Northampton" was struck by two torpedoes, which tore a huge hole in her port side, ripping away decks and bulkheads. Flaming oil sprayed over the ship; she took on water rapidly and began to list. Three hours later, as she began to sink stern-first, she had to be abandoned. So orderly and controlled was the process that loss of life was surprisingly light, and the survivors were all picked up within an hour by destroyers.

SOURCES:
wwiimemorial.com/registry/search/pfram.asp?HonoreeID=1547289&popcount=1&tcount=8
accessgenealogy.com/navy/missouri/r.htm
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS-Northampton_(CA-26)#Los_at_the_Battle_of_Tassafaronga

Complilation by Sharon R. Becker, April of 2013