World War II Honoree

Hank Bauer

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

Saint Louis, Missouri

Honored By

Joe Arsena

IN JANUARY 1942, HE ENLISTED IN THE MARINE CORPS. HE TOOK BASIC TRAINING AT MARE ISLAND, CALIFORNIA. HE FOUGHT ON NEW GEORGIA, WAS HIT IN THE BACK BY SHRAPNEL ON GUAM. NEXT CAME EMIRAU OFF NEW GUINEA, THEN OKINAWA. SIXTY-FOUR MEN WERE IN PLATOON, HIS LANDING GROUP ON OKINAWA AND ONLY SIX GOT OUT ALIVE. HE WAS WOUNDED AGAIN. A PIECE OF SHRAPNEL TORE A JAGGED HOLE IN HIS LEFT THIGH. AFTER 32 MONTHS OF COMBAT, HE RECEIVED 11 CAMPAIGN RIBBONS, 2 BRONZE STARS AND 2 PURPLE HEARTS.