World War II Honoree

William Wallace Ashurst

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

Green Ridge, Missouri

Honored By

Pearl Thomas

Served as commander of the North China Marine Corps Detachment and also as a commander of the Guard unit at the United States Embassy in Beijing, China. When Japan attacked the United States, all Marines and U.S. Navy personnel under his command were captured on December 8, 1941, by Japanese forces and interned in a prisoner of war camp in Shanghai until June 1945. He was awarded the Legion of Merit for his service as Intermediary of the Shanghai War Prisoners Camp and his efforts to relieve the suffering of the men under his command. Received Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal, American Defense Service with Base clasp, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, WWII Victory Medal.