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CITIATION: Medal of Honor Recipient

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving the First Battalion, Fifth Marines, First Marine Division, during action against the enemy Japanese forces on Peleliu island, Palau group, 15 September 1944. Valiantly placing himself at the head of his squad, Corporal Bausell 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, a Japanese grenade was hurled into their midst, Corporal Bausell 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 Corporal Bausell and the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.

FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT

The U.S.S. Bausell was commissioned on February 7, 1946, at the U.S. Naval Shipyard in Boston, Massachusetts and thus

began officially her career in the naval service. The shakedown cruise was made to the Caribbean area in March of that

same year. Guantanamo, Calebra and San Juan were visited in succession. The ship returned to her home yard at Boston,

but was soon underway for the blue waters of the Pacific.

The Mighty "B" passed through the Panama Canal in mid July of 1946 and continued up the coast to San Diego while

conducting maneuvers en route. Almost one year after her commissioning, the Bausell and her crew enjoyed liberty call on Navy Day 1946 at San Pedro, California.

On February 24, 1947, the Bausell was assigned to take part in her first full fledged fleet exercise. Darkened ship, rotating screens, condition watches and the unscheduled rescue of a downed PBM crew was her initiation to combat conditions. Upon her return to San Diego on March 28, 1947, the Bausell carried out training for the next quarter.

On July 2, the Bausell weighed anchor in San Diego with COMDESDIV 12 and embarked on her way to Pearl Harbor

for three months of vigorous hunter-killer exercises. It was during this period that the unfortunate crash of a B-17 carrying

ambassador Atchison occurred and the Bausell along with DESDIV 12 was detached to enter the search. The end of the

summer brought to a close the Hawaiian exercises and her first completed Far East cruise. The Bausell then headed to Puget Sound Naval shipyard to undergo her first overhaul. She had proven to be a vital member of the U.S. fleet.

After the overhaul, the Bausell was sent back to the Far East in early Jan, 1949. Com 7Th Fleet ordered Bausell to proceed at Flank Speed to the mouth of the Yellow river (known as the Yangtze) to rescue a US cargo ship. During the communist blockade of Shanghai, the merchant freighter "Flying Arrow" was shelled and hit 30 to 40 times by Chinese Nationalist gunboats. Destroyers, USS Bausell, USS Stickell and USS Anderson arrived in a maximum state readiness as ChiNats gunboats lurked in the distance of the crippled ship. The Mighty B and her crew stood fast and protected the Flying Arrow giving her time to complete repairs and enabling her to sail to a safe port.

Between February 1951 and April 1954, the Bausell completed three Far East cruises, operating almost continuously with the United Nation's forces in Korea. She operated with carrier task forces, blockaded the east coast of Korea and patrolled the Formosa straits. She also provided illumination and gunfire support for United Nations troops, aided in various sea-air rescue missions and participated in anti-submarine warfare exercises. The Bausell received three battle stars for her Korean service.

After the Korean War, the Bausell sailed in November 1954 on her sixth Far East cruise joining a fast support task force in the

Evacuation of the Tachan Islands (February 1955). In April 1955, the Bausell cruised back to the States for an overhaul at Mare Island Naval Shipyard and then returned late that year for her seventh Far East tour. She then assisted in various

operations with the Seventh Fleet, the Japanese Navy and the Chinese Nationalist Navy.

On her eighth Far East tour, which began in 1957, the Bausell participated in Operation Beacon Hill, a Pacific Fleet training

Exercise, off Luzon, P.I. and returned in July. During a competitive year in 1957, the Bausell was successful in retaining the Battle Efficiency Award "E" in Gunnery, ASW Operations, Engineering and Support for outstanding performances during the year.

In 1959, while Bausell was on a Far-East cruise, the crew decided our ship needed a logo. A contest was held on board to see who could come up with the best design. Many good drawings were submitted, but only one stood out from all the rest, which symbolized the ships capabilities and primary mission of Anti Submarine Warfare. That image was none-other than the Seahorse breathing fire on a jet with its tail wrapped around a submarine. The art work created by shipmate YNM-3 Glen Griffin won first place.