After 81 years of marriage, WWII vet and wife buried side by side at Arlington National Cemetery
File: Darrell Bush (center) and his wife Dorothy are seen during a wreath-laying ceremony at the Battle of the Bulge monument at Arlington National Cemetery, Jan. 25, 2023. (U.S. Army photo by Elizabeth Fraser / Arlington National Cemetery)
WASHINGTON - When Darrell and Dorothy Bush married in 1943, Dorothy was only 17 years old, and 18-year-old Darrell had just reported for his Army physical.
It would be a few years before the couple could start their lives together: While Darrell fought in World War II’s the Battle of the Bulge and later rescued prisoners of an infamous German concentration camp, Dorothy didn’t know if she’d ever see her beloved again.
"Nobody ever thought of them apart," their grandson Ben Ryerson recalled. "It was always Bush and Dorothy."
On June 5, their love story’s final chapter ended with them being buried together at Arlington National Cemetery – after more than 81 years of marriage.
Soldiers from the 3d U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard) and a bugler from the U.S. Army Band, "Pershing’s Own," conduct Military Funeral Honors for U.S. Army Pfc. Darrell Bush in Section 81 at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia, Thu
Remembering Darrell and Dorothy Bush
The backstory:
Darrell, known by most as "Bush," was a rifleman in the Army and fought in Bastogne during the Battle of the Bulge – the last major German offensive campaign on the western front, according to the U.S. military. Not long after the battle, Bush was shot in the right thigh while carrying a wounded soldier off the battlefield.
"Back home, Dorothy received a Purple Heart from the Army—and the bullet they pulled out of her husband. She did not know if he was dead or alive until she again started receiving letters from him," Arlington National Cemetery shared on its website.
Darrell recovered from his injury and continued his military service. He crossed the Rhine River and carried emaciated prisoners out of the infamous Dachau concentration camp built by Nazi Germany. Darrell remained in Europe after Germany surrendered and even marched in Gen. George S. Patton’s funeral procession on Dec. 24, 1945.
The U.S. flag is presented to Ben Ryerson following the funeral service for his grandparents, U.S. Army Pfc. Darrell Bush and Dorothy Bush. (U.S. Army photo by Elizabeth Fraser / Arlington National Cemetery)
Fewer than 10 people from Darrell’s 132-man company survived the war, and he was one of them. In addition to the Purple Heart and a Bronze Star, Luxembourg awarded Darrell with the Order of Merit in 2022.
After three years apart, Darrell and Dorothy were reunited. Darrell accepted a position with the energy company Pepco. Dorothy left her job and in 1947, she gave birth to their daughter, Linda Anne.
The Bushes became familiar faces at Arlington: they attended annual Battle of the Bulge ceremonies, and Darrell once spoke with CBS News anchor Norah O’Donnell about his time fighting overseas.
Buried side by side
Darrell died on Oct. 22, 2024, at 99 years old. Dorothy died four months later at 97 years old.
Before he passed, Darrell said he wanted to be buried at Arlington.
"He wanted to be here, and she just wanted to be with him," their grandson said.
On June 5, the couple was buried next to each other at Arlington following a ceremony with more than 100 friends and family members, as well as embassy representatives from Belgium and Luxembourg, in attendance.
Military Funeral Honors for U.S. Army Pfc. Darrell Bush in Section 81 at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia, Thursday, June 5, 2025. Bush was interred with his spouse, Dorothy, during the service. (U.S. Army photo by Elizabeth Fraser /
What they're saying:
"The Bushes faced hardship and endured, never seeking recognition; only the fulfillment of their duty," Maj. Gen. Trevor Bredenkamp said during the service. "In reflecting on Darrell’s legacy, let us not forget the only girl he did love. Through her strength, he found the confidence to serve his country, his family and his faith."
The Source: This report includes information from the U.S. military and Arlington National Cemetery. Jennifer Leigh Van Vleck of the Army National Military Cemeteries Public Affairs Office contributed.