Lewis K. Bausell

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Lewis Kenneth Bausell
April 17, 1924(1924-04-17) – September 18, 1944 (aged 20)
   
Lewis K. Bausell, World War II Medal of Honor recipient
Place of birth Pulaski, Virginia
Place of death Died of Wounds at Peleliu
Allegiance United States of America
Service/branch United States Marine Corps
Years of service 1941–1944
Rank Corporal
Unit 1st Battalion 5th Marines
Battles/wars World War II
*Battle of Guadalcanal
*Battle of Peleliu
Awards Medal of Honor
Purple Heart

Corporal Lewis Kenneth Bausell (April 17, 1924 – September 18, 1944) was a United States Marine and posthumous recipient of the United States' highest military honor — the Medal of Honor — for his sacrifice of life, "above and beyond the call of duty", during World War II. During combat at Peleliu, he covered an exploding Japanese hand grenade in order to protect his comrades; and died of his wounds three days later. Bausell was the only enlisted Marine from the Nation's capital, Washington, D.C. to be awarded the Medal of Honor for actions during World War II.

Contents

[edit] Biography

[edit] Early years

Lewis Kenneth Bausell was born in Pulaski, Virginia on 17 April 1924. Moving to Washington, he attended the local public schools and then went to work as a bookbinder for Ransdell, Incorporated, a Washington printer. He was employed there at the time of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor 7 December 1941.

[edit] Marine Corps, World War II service

The week following the Pearl Harbor attack, on 15 December, Bausell enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps for a four-year period. After training at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, South Carolina, he joined the 1st Marine Division in New River, North Carolina. Bausell was promoted to Private First Class on March 25, 1942, and to Corporal on June 1, 1942. On 20 May, 1942, the 5th Marines sailed for the Pacific arriving at Wellington, New Zealand, on June 20, 1942, the marines immediately began preparations for landing in the Solomon Islands.

Corporal Bausell took part in the initial landings on Guadalcanal and fought there for four months before going southward to Melbourne, Australia. In the spring of the next year he sailed for New Guinea.

Serving with the 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division, Cpl Bausell prepared for the next campaign, in New Guinea and then made the Cape Gloucester, New Britain, landing three days after the original invasion in December 1943. With that campaign concluded, the division returned to the Solomon Islands and went to Pavuvu Island for rest, rehabilitation, and preparation for another campaign.

The Peleliu landing took place on 15 September 1944 and the 5th Marines were the left flank regiment on the division front. In the first hour of action, the assault waves fought their way 100 yards inland to the top of a small coral ridge, one of dozens on the island. Cpl Bausell, who, one month earlier had been examined and found qualified for promotion to the rank of sergeant, was in a squad assigned to clean out one of the many enemy-infested caves which honeycombed the ridge.

On one side of the cave, a Marine second lieutenant and several of his men were using a flame thrower to force the enemy out through the other side where Cpl Bausell and several others waited with rifles ready. Two men stood at the entrance, firing into the cave. A Japanese soldier charged out holding a grenade against his body and lunged toward the little band of Marines. The grenade exploded injuring several Marines and killing the attacker.

Another enemy soldier came to the entrance and was shot. Then a third appeared and threw a grenade into the group. Cpl Bausell heroically threw himself on the grenade to save the lives of his fellow Marines.

Evacuated to a hospital ship, 20-year old Cpl Bausell survived for three days, before he died of his wounds on 18 September. He was buried at sea.[1]

[edit] Decorations and honors

The Medal of Honor, posthumously awarded the Marine by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, was presented to his mother and father in the Navy Department in Washington, D.C. by Secretary of the Navy James Forrestal on 11 June 1945. Gen Alexander A. Vandegrift, then Commandant of the Marine Corps, was present for the ceremony, as were the Bausell's two sisters and one sister-in-law.

In addition to the Medal of Honor, Cpl Bausell was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart; Presidential Unit Citation; Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with four bronze stars and the World War II Victory Medal.

On 19 November 1945 in Bath, Maine, a new destroyer, the USS Bausell (DD-845), was christened by the Cpl Bausell's mother.[2] The USS Bausell (DD-845) was a Gearing-class destroyer in the United States Navy during the Korean War and the Vietnam War.[2]

[edit] Medal of Honor citation

The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the MEDAL OF HONOR posthumously to

CORPORAL LEWIS K. BAUSELL
UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS

for service as set forth in the following CITATION:

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving with the First Battalion, Fifth Marines, First Marine Division, during action against enemy Japanese forces on Peleliu Island, Palau Group, 15 September 1944. Valiantly placing himself at the head of his squad, Corporal Bausell led the charge forward against a hostile pillbox which was covering a vital sector of the beach and, as the first to reach the emplacement, immediately started firing his automatic into the aperture while the remainder of his men closed in on the enemy. Swift to act a Japanese grenade was hurled into their midst, Corporal Bausell threw himself on the deadly weapon, taking the full blast of the explosion and sacrificing his own life to save his men. His unwavering loyalty and inspiring courage reflect the highest credit upon Corporal Bausell and the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.[3]

/S/ FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT

[edit] See also

United States Marine Corps Portal

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ Lewis K. Bausell at Find A Grave Retrieved on 2007-12-08
  2. ^ a b "Bausell",Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships
  3. ^ "Cpl Lewis K. Bausell, Marines Awarded the Medal of Honor.

[edit] References

This article incorporates text in the public domain from the United States Marine Corps.
  • Bausell. Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Naval Historical Center, Department of the Navy. Retrieved on 2007-10-21.

[edit] Further reading

  • Hallas, James H. (1994). The Devil's Anvil: The Assault on Peleliu. Praeger/Greenwood. ISBN 0275946460. 
  • Sloan, Bill (2005). Brotherhood of Heroes: The Marines at Peleliu, 1944 -- The Bloodiest Battle of the Pacific War. Simon and Schuster. ISBN 0743260090.