World War II Honoree

Lewis Kenneth Bausell

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

Washington, District Of Columbia

Honored By

Ralph Bozorth

HE WAS POSTHUMOUSLY AWARDED THE CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR. CORPORAL, U.S. MARINE CORPS. BORN: APRIL 17, 1924 IN PULASKI, VIRGINIA. ACCREDITED TO: DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. CITATION: FOR CONSPICUOUS GALLANTRY AND INTREPIDITY AT THE RISK OF HIS LIFE ABOVE AND BEYOND THE CALL OF DUTY, WHILE SERVING WITH THE 1ST BATTALION, 5TH MARINES, 1ST MARINE DIVISION, DURING ACTION AGAINST ENEMY JAPANESE FORCES ON PELELIU ISLAND, PALAU GROUP ON SEPTEMBER 15, 1944. VALIANTLY PLACED HIMSELF AT THE HEAD OF HIS SQUAD, HE 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, HE 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 HIM AND THE U.S. NAVAL SERVICE. HE GALLANTLY GAVE HIS LIFE FOR HIS COUNTRY.