Lewis Kenneth Bausell signed up with the US Marine Corps a week after Pearl Harbor for a four-year enlistment. Sent first to Parris Island, South Carolina, Bausell was trained at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot before joining the 1st Marine Division at New River, North Carolina (now Camp Lejeune). Bausell was promoted to a Private First Class in March 1942 and then to the rank of Corporal three months later. In May 1942, Bausell sailed with the 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division to the Pacific. Landing in New Zealand, preparations were immediately made for the invasion onto the Solomon Islands. Bausell was a part of the initial fighting on Guadalcanal before being transferred to Australia after four months. From Australia, Bausell sailed to New Guinea and prepared with the rest of the 5th Marines for the Battle at Cape Gloucester on the island of New Britain. The US was successful in capturing the island, so Bausell was sent back to the Solomon Island of Pavuvu. While there, he began to prepare for the next campaign at Peleliu Island of the Palau Group against the Japanese.
On September 5, 1944, the Peleliu Landing took place with the 5th Marines making up the left flank of the invasion. Within an hour of beginning the assault, the US had moved inland by 100 yards. From there, various squads, including Bausell's, were assigned to clear the enemy out of the caves scattered on the island. Armed with a flame thrower to encourage the Japanese soldiers to leave one cave, and riflemen at the ready to shoot whoever came out, Bausell's squad were ready. The first soldier to come out of the cave was holding a hand grenade and blew himself up in an attempt to injure the Marines. The Japanese soldier caused some damage, but most of it was to himself, and Bausell’s squad was not deterred. The next enemy soldier who exited the cave was shot. The third Japanese soldier to leave the cave threw a grenade. Bausell bravely chose to sacrifice himself and covered the grenade with his own body to prevent it from killing all of the Marines present. Though he was quickly transported to a hospital ship, Bausell died several days later from his wounds and was buried at sea.
Bausell was the only resident of Washington, D.C., to receive a Medal of Honor during World War Two. He was also awarded the Purple Heart, the Navy Presidential Unit Citation, the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal w/ 4 bronze stars, and the WWII Victory Medal for his service to the US during WWII.
A Gearing-class destroyer was named after Bausell in 1945 by his mother, and served in both the Korean and Vietnam Wars.
Sources Consulted:
