Lewis K Bausell
In Pulaski, Virginia, Lewis was born on the 17th of April, 1924. His family moved to Washington DC when he was seven and in addition to attending school, he worked as a book binder for a local printer, Ransdell, Incorporated. When the attacks on Pearl Harbor happened, Lewis was 17 years old and the following week, his father signed for his enlistment into the US Marine Corps. He went to recruit training at Parris Island, South Carolina, and was assigned to the 1st Marine Division in North Carolina. Lewis was a Corporal when he deployed to the Pacific on the 20th of May, 1942 with the 5th Marines and he fought in the landings at Guadalcanal and continued to fight there for four months. He then moved towards Melbourne, Australia, before sailing to New Guinea for the landing in Cape Gloucester. The 1st Marine Division then returned to the Solomon Islands for rest and rehabilitation preparing and participating in the campaign at Peleliu. It was Lewis's actions during the landing at Peleliu that would save the lives of his fellow Marines and earn him the Medal of Honor. The citation reads:
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, September 15, 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 as 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.
Lewis was evacuated to a hospital ship but died from his wounds three days later at the age of 20. His mother and father received his Medal of Honor from the Secretary of the Navy on the 11th of June, 1945, making him the only enlisted Marine from Washington DC to receive the Medal during World War 2. Five months later, the USS Bausell was christened by Lewis's mother and it would go on to serve during both the Korean and Vietnam Wars. Lewis Kenneth Bausell was buried at sea but his name resides on the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial on the Walls of the Missing – Buried at Sea, in Manila, Philippines.
