Welcome home.
Those are words many may take for granted, but for one family and the Pulaski County community, being able to say them has helped provide a measure of comfort and pride as the entrance to Pulaski County Middle School has now been officially named “Medal of Honor Way” in honor of Medal of Honor recipient and Marine Corporal Lewis Kenneth Bausell.
Corporal Bausell is the only Medal of Honor recipient from Pulaski County. He was posthumously awarded the Medal after his actions of September 15, 1944. On that day, during the Battle of Peleliu, Corporal Bausell heroically threw himself on a grenade during an assault on a fortified position, saving the lives of his fellow Marines. He died three days later, September 18, 1944, from his wounds. As was the protocol for that time, he was buried at sea.
“Knowing that the memory of my Uncle Lewis will live on each time someone sees the sign and monument … shining like a beacon and a North Star … is very special to our family and we thank all who were involved in making it a reality,” Jim Bausell, nephew of Corporal Bausell said.
The ceremony, moved inside to the school auditorium due to heavy rains in the area, was a special event that included many members of the community, along with the Bausell family. Local Veterans organizations, dignitaries, and a representative from the U.S.S. Bausell Reunion Committee were also on hand. The event featured music from the Pulaski County High School band and ended with refreshments from the PCHS Culinary Arts Department.
“CPL Bausell is a true hometown hero, receiving the Medal of Honor among many of his other distinguished service medals for his service and leadership in saving his comrades lives,” Laura Walters, Chair of the Pulaski County Board of Supervisors said in the opening remarks. “PCMS enables us to provide for future generations a foundation of skills and values to continue the example set by Corporal Bausell. PCMS serves as a tribute to what our community, our parents, our school board and our board of supervisors can accomplish when we work together. Though the way forward is not always easy and requires sacrifice, let us recognize Medal of Honor Way as a reminder to us all to be the best that we can be and to continue to work together to achieve success on future projects that serve our community.”
After an introduction of special guests by Mrs. Nancy Burchett, Chair of the Pulaski County Courthouse Committee, Dr. Kevin Siers, Superintendent of Pulaski County Public Schools, introduced Mr. Jim Bausell to those in attendance. Before beginning the main portion of his remarks, Jim Bausell presented four books about the Medal of Honor and some of the recipients of that award to Dr. Paige Cash, Chairwoman of the Pulaski County School Board.
“My grandmother made it a point to ensure that I knew the history of our family and of my Uncle Lewis,” Bausell said. “When I see Medal of Honor Way, I think of all the Veterans. I think of all their families and their communities. I never knew my Uncle Lewis. I never met him. What I know comes from the vision and the words and the emotions of my grandmother. When I see his name on that street sign, I always click to my grandmother. I went to her house every second weekend when I was young. Sometimes I cut grass. Sometimes I carried boxes. Sometimes I waxed floors.”
“Eventually each time, my grandmother would take me upstairs to her room,” he continued. “I’d sit on her bed and she’d go over to her cedar chest. She’d open it and talk to me about Lewis, show me his Medal of Honor and copies of the newspaper articles. I still have that original newspaper, even though it’s old enough that it’s starting to dissolve. She showed me a copy of the prayer sent to her by the local VFW chapter. She showed me the remnants of the champagne bottle that was used to christen the U.S.S. Bausell when she struck it across the bow of that ship. We still have those remnants. As a young boy, I used to write and receive letters to and from the commanders of the ship. All of that, to a young boy, was pretty overwhelming.”
“She showed me and I would read the actual Western Union telegram, sent to her on Wednesday, October 11, 1944 … this was 23 days after Lewis was buried at sea … and no one from the family had known that he was gone. That telegram, delivered to Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence K. Bausell, read ‘We deeply regret to inform you that your son, Lewis Kenneth Bausell, USMC, died of wounds received in action in the performance of his duty in service of his country. Remains buried at sea. You will be promptly furnished any further information received. To prevent any possible aid to our enemies, do not divulge the name of the ship or station. Please accept my heartfelt sympathy. Letter follows.’”
“Something else happened every two weeks,” he continued. “Sitting next to her, upstairs next to her cedar chest, she cried. One day, on the way home with my dad, I told my dad about it. He began crying too. I was embarrassed by that at the time, but eventually you get to the age where you are no longer embarrassed. I always wondered, at just 20 years old, how did Lewis realize to throw himself on that grenade and save his brothers? How did he have the presence of mind to make that decision? What would I have done? What would you have done? The lesson I’ve learned is to lead my life in a way that would make my grandmother and Lewis proud. Be half the man or woman they would want us to be. Be the person that takes care of those closest to you. I’ve always believed that as long as one person remembers the life we’ve lived on Earth, their spirit shines like a beacon.”
Pulaski Mayor Shannon Collins read the official proclamation from the town and presented a framed copy of it to the Bausell family. Michael Barbour, former Chair of the Pulaski County School Board, spoke next.
“Four years ago, while serving on the Pulaski County School Board, I made a motion to name the entrance to the new middle school in honor of Marine Corporal Lewis K. Bausell,” Barbour said. “It’s truly gratifying to be here, years later, and see that happen. Growing up in Fries, a suburb of Galax, everyone turned out for SGT Charles Morris Day. He was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions in Vietnam. That made quite an impression on this 10-year-old. The main thing he said that day, which I’ll talk about later, really impacted me. I became very interested in those who have received the Medal of Honor, particularly those who came from Southwest Virginia. It was in a book that I read where I saw, for the first time, the name Lewis K. Bausell from Pulaski, Virginia. I knew about Pulaski, having come here from Galax with my parents, so it really stuck with me. I saw his name on that tablet in front of the courthouse with so many others. If you haven’t seen that, go see it. Take your children and grandchildren with you. Let them see that.”
“SGT Morris, on that day back in 1967, said ‘I did what was required to protect my men.’ He didn’t say much more, but I remember those words. I think he was embarrassed by the attention. CPL Bausell didn’t survive to share with us his thoughts, but there’s not any doubt that he acted to protect his fellow Marines. So, what it is about these people who served that allowed them to distinctively act and protect their fellow soldiers instead of protecting themselves. What is that? What is that quality that these extraordinary people possess? What I’ve read is that acts of courage occur in an instant, but are always the reflection of the highest character, formed over a lifetime. It’s the character of the men who do these extraordinary things … that sacrifice themselves … that leads them to protect their fellow soldiers or service members. The character of Corporal Bausell was at least partially formed by his parents, his siblings, and I think at least somewhat his time here in Pulaski County. Honoring him, here at a school that will serve thousands of students in the decades to come, will hopefully help inspire that type of character in those students to come. We are honored to recognize the entrance to PCMS in the name of a son of our community, Corporal Lewis Kenneth Bausell.”
Dr. Paige Cash ended the ceremony with a reading of “An Epitaph for the American Dead” by poet Yvor Winters.
“We are fortunate today to remember Corporal Lewis K. Bausell and to put his name to something that every citizen of Pulaski County will see. And they will remember him for years to come. He is home. I hope that as they remember him, they remember other individuals who put country before themselves,” she said after the poem. “I close with the most humble gratitude for the sacrifice of Medal of Honor recipient Corporal Lewis K. Bausell. For his sacrifice to ensure our freedom, for the sacrifices of those whose names we know, and for the sacrifices of those we don’t.”
The full photo gallery from the event can be seen on the Pulaski County Public Schools Facebook page, or by clicking HERE.