Lewis K. Bausell
| Lewis Kenneth Bausell | |
|---|---|
 
Lewis K. Bausell, World War II Medal of Honor recipient
|
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| Born |
April 17, 1924 Pulaski, Virginia |
| Died | September 18, 1944 (aged 20) Died of Wounds at Peleliu |
| Allegiance | United States of America |
| Service/branch | United States Marine Corps |
| Years of service | 1941–1944 |
| Rank | Corporal |
| Unit | 1st Battalion 5th Marines |
| Battles/wars |
World War II *Battle of Guadalcanal *Battle of Peleliu |
| Awards |
Medal of Honor Purple Heart |
Corporal Lewis Kenneth Bausell (April 17, 1924 – September 18, 1944) was a United States Marine and posthumous recipient of the United States' highest military honor — the Medal of Honor — for his sacrifice of life, "above and beyond the call of duty", during World War II. During combat at Peleliu, he covered an exploding Japanese hand grenade in order to protect his comrades, and died of his wounds three days later. Bausell was the only enlisted Marine from the Nation's capital, Washington, D.C. to be awarded the Medal of Honor for actions during World War II.
Lewis Kenneth Bausell was born in Pulaski, Virginia on April 17, 1924. Moving to Washington, he attended the local public schools and then went to work as a bookbinder for Ransdell, Incorporated, a Washington printer. He was employed there at the time of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor December 7, 1941.
The week following the Pearl Harbor attack, on December 15, Bausell enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps for a four-year period. After training at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, South Carolina, he joined the 1st Marine Division in New River, North Carolina. Bausell was promoted to Private First Class on March 25, 1942, and to Corporal on June 1, 1942. On May 20, 1942, the 5th Marines sailed for the Pacific arriving at Wellington, New Zealand, on June 20, 1942, the marines immediately began preparations for landing in the Solomon Islands.
Corporal Bausell took part in the initial landings on Guadalcanal and fought there for four months before going southward to Melbourne, Australia. In the spring of the next year he sailed for New Guinea.
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