WW II Marine Honored

On September 9, 2009, First Sergeant Casey T. Bazewick, USMC (retired), 91, was awarded the Purple Heart for wounds he received as a prisoner of war in World War II. He enlisted before WWII in 1938, after two years in the Marine Corps Reserve. 

He served with the 4th Marines in Shanghai and on Corregidor in its defense until it fell on May 6, 1942. 

He became a prisoner of Japan for 39 months: 92 Garage (Corregidor), Bilibid Prison (Manila), Cabanatuan (Luzon, where 42% died in the first year), Hell Ship Tottori Maru (on deck he watched it nearly sunk by two American torpedoes), and Mukden, Manchuria at a large Mitsubishi factory (three winters, 40–50 below zero). 

  Read the story at Sgt Grit's Scuttlebutt

Congratulations, First Sergeant! OoohRah!