The Lake County Public Library, 1919 W. 81st Avenue, will showcase the photography and history of local photographer John A. Bushemi of Gary. Known as a good-natured, talented photographer, he covered several of the island invasions during World War II in the Pacific. This traveling exhibit features reproductions of Bushemi's photographs.
Bushemi died Feb. 19, 1944, when shrapnel from Japanese knee-mortar shells hit and mortally wounded him. Images of both his battleship funeral service and his funeral service back home in Gary are included in the exhibit.
Among the magazine covers and personal photographs from Bushemi's assignment to YANK, the weekly magazine written by and for enlisted men, are images of soldiers training at Fort Bragg, soldiers on the beach of Entiwok Island in the Marshalls awaiting the order to attack, and close-up portraits of soldiers who were featured in an article about the battle for New Georgia.
The exhibit is on loan from the Indiana Historical Society and available for viewing during library open hours from February 5 to March 20.
