true to his prediction, bussey was killed on january 7, 1945, when his landing craft took a direct hit from a japanese mortar after getting stuck on a coral reef 75 yards from the beach. the blast threw bussey and most of the crew into the water; eyewitnesses reported that bussey was struck in his left shoulder and chest, and that his left arm may have been completely blown off. he was last seen signalling his men with his right arm to take cover. most of the crew of the landing craft were rescued, but bussey was not among them, and his body was never recovered.