under Major General Alexander Vandegrift was subsequently ordered to the South Pacific Area in June 1942 and following arrival at Wellington, New Zealand, Buse was transferred to the staff of the division as assistant operations officer. Major Buse participated in the landing on Guadalcanal in August 1942 and following its capture, he took part in the island's defense. For his service during the Guadalcanal campaign, he was decorated with the Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V". Buse was promoted to lieutenant colonel in April 1943 and subsequently participated in the Battle of Cape Gloucester in December 1943. During the same battle, in January 1944, he took temporary command of the 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines. The 3rd Battalion was trying to capture heavily fortified Hill 660, but its advance was halted by the enemy machine gun fire. Buse assumed command of the battalion on January 8, 1944, and led his unit to the victory, capturing the strategic objectives of the operation with a minimum of casualties on his side. For his excellent leadership and gallantry in action, he was decorated with the Silver Star. Buse remained with the 3rd Battalion until February 20, when he was transferred to the 5th Marine Regiment as its executive officer. When the regimental commander, Colonel Oliver P. Smith, was promoted to division assistant commander, Buse assumed temporary command of the regiment on April 10, 1944. He led the 5th Marines during the final phase of the Cape Gloucester campaign and subsequently received his second Bronze Star Medal for the securing of the village of Talasea. Buse was succeeded by Colonel William S. Fellers and after two months of service with the 5th Marine Regiment, he was ordered back to the United States in July 1944. He was transferred to Washington, D.C., and assigned to Headquarters Marine Corps, where he was appointed executive officer of the Plans and Operations Section. Later career In July 1946, Buse was ordered to Japan to serve as regimental combat team instructor within Troop Training Unit, Amphibious Training Command. He subsequently participated in the amphibious training of 8th Army units. Buse was transferred to Pearl Harbor in February 1947 and appointed assistant chief of staff for logistics within Fleet Marine Force Pacific under Lieutenant General Allen H. Turnage. Buse returned to the States in February 1949 and subsequently attended the Armed Forces Staff College in Norfolk, Virginia. Upon his graduation in