On 4 Apr 1943, American Air Corps pilots 2LT Samuel Grashio and LTC William Dyess, US Army Air Corps Officer 2LT Leo Boelens, USMC officers 1LT Michael Dobervich, CPT Austin Shofner and 1LT Jack Hawkins, US Navy LCDR Melvin McCoy, US Coast Artillery MAJ Steve M Mellnik, US Army Sergeants Paul H Marshall and Robert Spielman, along with two Filipinos were able to escape from a POW work camp, Davao Region, in the Philippines. Over the course of the next few months, 7 were transported a few at a time by submarine to Australia while 3 stayed behind to continue fighting with the guerrillas. Leo Boelens was eventually killed by the Japanese. This was the only successful mass escape from a Japanese POW camp.
Stephen M Mellnik retired as a BG, US Army, Stephen Michael Mellnik.
Melvyn McCoy retired as a Rear Admiral, US Navy, Melvyn McCoy.
Jack Hawkins retired as a COL, US Marine Corps, Jack Hawkins.
Austin Shofner retired as a BG, US Marine Corps, Austin Conner Shofner.
William Dyess, LTC was killed during the war in California trying to make an emergency landing, William Edwin Dyess, Abilene Army Air Base was renamed Dyess Air Force Base in his honor in 1956.
Paul H Marshall, Paul Herman Marshall
Michael Dobervich, retired as a LTC, US Marine Corps, Michael Dobervich.
Robert B Speilman, retired as a COL, US Army, Robert Blake Spielman
Leo A Boelens, 2LT, US Army, eventually caught by the Japanese and killed, Leo A Boelens.
Along with recon information provided by these men, they also provided some of the first reports of the atrocities inflicted upon US military personnel by the Japanese.
Samuel Grashio's entry into that POW camp was via the infamous Bataan Death March. Guided by one of the Filipino escapees, these men were eventually able to make contact with a band of Filipino guerilla fighters. After several months of gathering intelligence that they radioed to Australia, these POW escapees were picked up by submarines a few at a time and carried to Australia.
Upon his death in 1999, he was honored in the Congressional Record of the Congress of the United States.
With the exception of copyrighted articles, there are no restrictions on the republication of material from the Congressional Record. This is explicitly spelled out in
http://www.gpo.gov/help/about_congressional_record.htm
[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 17]
[House]
[Pages 24436-24437]
[From the U.S. Government Printing Office, www.gpo.gov]
IN RECOGNITION OF THE LIFE OF SAMUEL C. GRASHIO
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Nethercutt) is recognized for 5 minutes.
Mr. NETHERCUTT. Mr. Speaker, I want to take a moment today to recognize the life of Samuel C. Grashio, who died this past Sunday in Spokane, Washington, my hometown, and a major part of the Fifth Congressional District of Washington. Samuel Grashio was a retired Air Force Colonel and a highly decorated World War II veteran. While many years have passed since that great struggle for peace, we still remember Samuel Grashio's escape from a Japanese prisoner of war camp during the Bataan Death March. He, along with many others, made that very difficult trek and survived. America's spirit was lifted by the courage that Sam and nine other soldiers showed by escaping the prison camp and evading their captors in enemy territory for so long.
They continued their struggle for many months, alongside friendly Filipino guerillas who fought bravely to make sure that this group of Americans was able to survive. Family and friends of Samuel Grashio remember him to be a man of great faith, great courage, and great patriotism. America will remember him for being our hero and our strength during World War II.
An article appeared in the Spokesman-Review newspaper in Spokane after the death of Sam, and quoted in that article was a very close friend of mine, Seaton Daly, Senior, who has been a longtime Spokane lawyer and a great, great friend whose son and I, whose late son and I, were very, very close friends. We went through law school together and
practiced law together for years.
Seaton said at the time of Sam's death that this was a great man of faith, Samuel Grashio, and he had as his priorities in life three influences: God, family, and country, in that order. He was a great man of stature in eastern Washington and nationally for his service in World War II, and he cultivated friends like Seaton Daly, Senior, who were lifelong friends, and who grieve as Sam passed away.
Sam Grashio led a wonderful life in service to our country. We certainly wish all of Sam's family well, and all of God's blessings in this time of reflection and mourning for them. I must say, too often we do not recognize deeply enough those heroes who fought for freedom in World War II and have survived, many in this country, to this day as veterans and as proud veterans, and proud supporters of the freedom that this country so much enjoys.
Sam Grashio was one of those people. It is sad that he has passed away, but it is an honor for our community that he lived as long as he did and was able to enjoy not only the freedom he fought for but the great, great benefits that this country offers to all of its citizens.
Mr. Speaker, I join many others in paying tribute and offering deep sympathy at the death of Samuel Grashio, as do many, many, in Spokane Washington, and the State of Washington.
Serving with the 21st Pursuit Squadron, 24th Pursuit Group, 5th Interceptor Command, 5th Air Force, he was awarded the
Distinguished Service Cross and the Silver Star
His citations:
Distinguished Service Cross
SYNOPSIS: Second Lieutenant (Air Corps) Samuel C. Grashio, United States Army Air Forces, was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving with Philippine Guerilla Forces during the period 4 April 1943 through 12 October 1943. Second Lieutenant Grashio was one of ten men including two Naval Officers, three Air Corps Officers, and two Marine Corps Officers who escaped after nearly a year in captivity after the fall of Bataan and Corregidor. The ten men evaded their captors for days until connecting with Filipino Guerillas under Wendell Fertig. The officers remained with the guerillas for weeks, obtaining vital information which they carried with them when they were subsequently evacuated by American submarines. Their escape was the only mass escape from a Japanese prison camp during the war. The personal courage and zealous devotion to duty displayed by Second Lieutenant Grashio during this period have upheld the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, the Prisoner of War, and the United States Army Air Forces.
General Orders: Headquarters, U.S. Army Forces in the Far East, General Orders No. 76 (1943)
Rank: Second Lieutenant
Company: 21st Pursuit Squadron
Regiment: 24th Pursuit Group
Division: Prisoner of War
Silver Star Citation
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star Medal to Second Lieutenant (Air Corps) Samuel C. Grashio, United States Army Air Forces, for gallantry in action while serving as a Pilot with the 5th Interceptor Command, FIFTH Air Force, in action in the vicinity of Algoma Bay, Bataan, Philippine Islands, on the night of 1 - 2 February 1942. When the report of an attempted enemy landing force was received, Lieutenant Grashio took off individually for the area of the reported landing attempt, and proceeded to bomb and heavily strafe, returning to his base to replenish his ammunition supply after each attack. The skill and determination of Lieutenant Grashio may be attested by the success of the attack. Several enemy landing barges were destroyed, and so many casualties were inflicted that the landing attempt was repulsed. Furthermore, all airplanes and pilots returned to safety to their bases after the completion of the mission.
General Orders: Headquarters, U.S. Army Forces in the Far East, General Orders No. 21 (February 7, 1942)
Rank: Second Lieutenant
Regiment: 5th Interceptor Command
Division: 5th Air Force
After retiring from the US Air Force in 1965, He then became the assistant to the President of Gonzaga University in Spokane.
He co-authored "Return to Freedom: The War Memoirs of Colonel Samuel C. Grashio U.S.A.F.", with Bernard Nordling
COL Grashio's plight can be further found in "Captivity, Flight, and Survival in World War II" by Alan J Levine, copyright date 1 Jan 2000, "8-Dec-41: MacArthur's Pearl Harbor" by William H Bartsch, copyright date 2003, as well as the article "Valor: Death March", Air Force Magazine, Jul 1995.
COL Grashio is survived by his wife, Devonia, and an article regarding her can be found at:
http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2010/jul/17/92-year-old-woman-paints-from-the-heart/
Stephen M Mellnik retired as a BG, US Army, Stephen Michael Mellnik.
Melvyn McCoy retired as a Rear Admiral, US Navy, Melvyn McCoy.
Jack Hawkins retired as a COL, US Marine Corps, Jack Hawkins.
Austin Shofner retired as a BG, US Marine Corps, Austin Conner Shofner.
William Dyess, LTC was killed during the war in California trying to make an emergency landing, William Edwin Dyess, Abilene Army Air Base was renamed Dyess Air Force Base in his honor in 1956.
Paul H Marshall, Paul Herman Marshall
Michael Dobervich, retired as a LTC, US Marine Corps, Michael Dobervich.
Robert B Speilman, retired as a COL, US Army, Robert Blake Spielman
Leo A Boelens, 2LT, US Army, eventually caught by the Japanese and killed, Leo A Boelens.
Along with recon information provided by these men, they also provided some of the first reports of the atrocities inflicted upon US military personnel by the Japanese.
Samuel Grashio's entry into that POW camp was via the infamous Bataan Death March. Guided by one of the Filipino escapees, these men were eventually able to make contact with a band of Filipino guerilla fighters. After several months of gathering intelligence that they radioed to Australia, these POW escapees were picked up by submarines a few at a time and carried to Australia.
Upon his death in 1999, he was honored in the Congressional Record of the Congress of the United States.
With the exception of copyrighted articles, there are no restrictions on the republication of material from the Congressional Record. This is explicitly spelled out in
http://www.gpo.gov/help/about_congressional_record.htm
[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 17]
[House]
[Pages 24436-24437]
[From the U.S. Government Printing Office, www.gpo.gov]
IN RECOGNITION OF THE LIFE OF SAMUEL C. GRASHIO
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Nethercutt) is recognized for 5 minutes.
Mr. NETHERCUTT. Mr. Speaker, I want to take a moment today to recognize the life of Samuel C. Grashio, who died this past Sunday in Spokane, Washington, my hometown, and a major part of the Fifth Congressional District of Washington. Samuel Grashio was a retired Air Force Colonel and a highly decorated World War II veteran. While many years have passed since that great struggle for peace, we still remember Samuel Grashio's escape from a Japanese prisoner of war camp during the Bataan Death March. He, along with many others, made that very difficult trek and survived. America's spirit was lifted by the courage that Sam and nine other soldiers showed by escaping the prison camp and evading their captors in enemy territory for so long.
They continued their struggle for many months, alongside friendly Filipino guerillas who fought bravely to make sure that this group of Americans was able to survive. Family and friends of Samuel Grashio remember him to be a man of great faith, great courage, and great patriotism. America will remember him for being our hero and our strength during World War II.
An article appeared in the Spokesman-Review newspaper in Spokane after the death of Sam, and quoted in that article was a very close friend of mine, Seaton Daly, Senior, who has been a longtime Spokane lawyer and a great, great friend whose son and I, whose late son and I, were very, very close friends. We went through law school together and
practiced law together for years.
Seaton said at the time of Sam's death that this was a great man of faith, Samuel Grashio, and he had as his priorities in life three influences: God, family, and country, in that order. He was a great man of stature in eastern Washington and nationally for his service in World War II, and he cultivated friends like Seaton Daly, Senior, who were lifelong friends, and who grieve as Sam passed away.
Sam Grashio led a wonderful life in service to our country. We certainly wish all of Sam's family well, and all of God's blessings in this time of reflection and mourning for them. I must say, too often we do not recognize deeply enough those heroes who fought for freedom in World War II and have survived, many in this country, to this day as veterans and as proud veterans, and proud supporters of the freedom that this country so much enjoys.
Sam Grashio was one of those people. It is sad that he has passed away, but it is an honor for our community that he lived as long as he did and was able to enjoy not only the freedom he fought for but the great, great benefits that this country offers to all of its citizens.
Mr. Speaker, I join many others in paying tribute and offering deep sympathy at the death of Samuel Grashio, as do many, many, in Spokane Washington, and the State of Washington.
Serving with the 21st Pursuit Squadron, 24th Pursuit Group, 5th Interceptor Command, 5th Air Force, he was awarded the
Distinguished Service Cross and the Silver Star
His citations:
Distinguished Service Cross
SYNOPSIS: Second Lieutenant (Air Corps) Samuel C. Grashio, United States Army Air Forces, was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving with Philippine Guerilla Forces during the period 4 April 1943 through 12 October 1943. Second Lieutenant Grashio was one of ten men including two Naval Officers, three Air Corps Officers, and two Marine Corps Officers who escaped after nearly a year in captivity after the fall of Bataan and Corregidor. The ten men evaded their captors for days until connecting with Filipino Guerillas under Wendell Fertig. The officers remained with the guerillas for weeks, obtaining vital information which they carried with them when they were subsequently evacuated by American submarines. Their escape was the only mass escape from a Japanese prison camp during the war. The personal courage and zealous devotion to duty displayed by Second Lieutenant Grashio during this period have upheld the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, the Prisoner of War, and the United States Army Air Forces.
General Orders: Headquarters, U.S. Army Forces in the Far East, General Orders No. 76 (1943)
Rank: Second Lieutenant
Company: 21st Pursuit Squadron
Regiment: 24th Pursuit Group
Division: Prisoner of War
Silver Star Citation
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star Medal to Second Lieutenant (Air Corps) Samuel C. Grashio, United States Army Air Forces, for gallantry in action while serving as a Pilot with the 5th Interceptor Command, FIFTH Air Force, in action in the vicinity of Algoma Bay, Bataan, Philippine Islands, on the night of 1 - 2 February 1942. When the report of an attempted enemy landing force was received, Lieutenant Grashio took off individually for the area of the reported landing attempt, and proceeded to bomb and heavily strafe, returning to his base to replenish his ammunition supply after each attack. The skill and determination of Lieutenant Grashio may be attested by the success of the attack. Several enemy landing barges were destroyed, and so many casualties were inflicted that the landing attempt was repulsed. Furthermore, all airplanes and pilots returned to safety to their bases after the completion of the mission.
General Orders: Headquarters, U.S. Army Forces in the Far East, General Orders No. 21 (February 7, 1942)
Rank: Second Lieutenant
Regiment: 5th Interceptor Command
Division: 5th Air Force
After retiring from the US Air Force in 1965, He then became the assistant to the President of Gonzaga University in Spokane.
He co-authored "Return to Freedom: The War Memoirs of Colonel Samuel C. Grashio U.S.A.F.", with Bernard Nordling
COL Grashio's plight can be further found in "Captivity, Flight, and Survival in World War II" by Alan J Levine, copyright date 1 Jan 2000, "8-Dec-41: MacArthur's Pearl Harbor" by William H Bartsch, copyright date 2003, as well as the article "Valor: Death March", Air Force Magazine, Jul 1995.
COL Grashio is survived by his wife, Devonia, and an article regarding her can be found at:
http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2010/jul/17/92-year-old-woman-paints-from-the-heart/
On 4 Apr 1943, American Air Corps pilots 2LT Samuel Grashio and LTC William Dyess, US Army Air Corps Officer 2LT Leo Boelens, USMC officers 1LT Michael Dobervich, CPT Austin Shofner and 1LT Jack Hawkins, US Navy LCDR Melvin McCoy, US Coast Artillery MAJ Steve M Mellnik, US Army Sergeants Paul H Marshall and Robert Spielman, along with two Filipinos were able to escape from a POW work camp, Davao Region, in the Philippines. Over the course of the next few months, 7 were transported a few at a time by submarine to Australia while 3 stayed behind to continue fighting with the guerrillas. Leo Boelens was eventually killed by the Japanese. This was the only successful mass escape from a Japanese POW camp.
Stephen M Mellnik retired as a BG, US Army, Stephen Michael Mellnik.
Melvyn McCoy retired as a Rear Admiral, US Navy, Melvyn McCoy.
Jack Hawkins retired as a COL, US Marine Corps, Jack Hawkins.
Austin Shofner retired as a BG, US Marine Corps, Austin Conner Shofner.
William Dyess, LTC was killed during the war in California trying to make an emergency landing, William Edwin Dyess, Abilene Army Air Base was renamed Dyess Air Force Base in his honor in 1956.
Paul H Marshall, Paul Herman Marshall
Michael Dobervich, retired as a LTC, US Marine Corps, Michael Dobervich.
Robert B Speilman, retired as a COL, US Army, Robert Blake Spielman
Leo A Boelens, 2LT, US Army, eventually caught by the Japanese and killed, Leo A Boelens.
Along with recon information provided by these men, they also provided some of the first reports of the atrocities inflicted upon US military personnel by the Japanese.
Samuel Grashio's entry into that POW camp was via the infamous Bataan Death March. Guided by one of the Filipino escapees, these men were eventually able to make contact with a band of Filipino guerilla fighters. After several months of gathering intelligence that they radioed to Australia, these POW escapees were picked up by submarines a few at a time and carried to Australia.
Upon his death in 1999, he was honored in the Congressional Record of the Congress of the United States.
With the exception of copyrighted articles, there are no restrictions on the republication of material from the Congressional Record. This is explicitly spelled out in
http://www.gpo.gov/help/about_congressional_record.htm
[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 17]
[House]
[Pages 24436-24437]
[From the U.S. Government Printing Office, www.gpo.gov]
IN RECOGNITION OF THE LIFE OF SAMUEL C. GRASHIO
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Nethercutt) is recognized for 5 minutes.
Mr. NETHERCUTT. Mr. Speaker, I want to take a moment today to recognize the life of Samuel C. Grashio, who died this past Sunday in Spokane, Washington, my hometown, and a major part of the Fifth Congressional District of Washington. Samuel Grashio was a retired Air Force Colonel and a highly decorated World War II veteran. While many years have passed since that great struggle for peace, we still remember Samuel Grashio's escape from a Japanese prisoner of war camp during the Bataan Death March. He, along with many others, made that very difficult trek and survived. America's spirit was lifted by the courage that Sam and nine other soldiers showed by escaping the prison camp and evading their captors in enemy territory for so long.
They continued their struggle for many months, alongside friendly Filipino guerillas who fought bravely to make sure that this group of Americans was able to survive. Family and friends of Samuel Grashio remember him to be a man of great faith, great courage, and great patriotism. America will remember him for being our hero and our strength during World War II.
An article appeared in the Spokesman-Review newspaper in Spokane after the death of Sam, and quoted in that article was a very close friend of mine, Seaton Daly, Senior, who has been a longtime Spokane lawyer and a great, great friend whose son and I, whose late son and I, were very, very close friends. We went through law school together and
practiced law together for years.
Seaton said at the time of Sam's death that this was a great man of faith, Samuel Grashio, and he had as his priorities in life three influences: God, family, and country, in that order. He was a great man of stature in eastern Washington and nationally for his service in World War II, and he cultivated friends like Seaton Daly, Senior, who were lifelong friends, and who grieve as Sam passed away.
Sam Grashio led a wonderful life in service to our country. We certainly wish all of Sam's family well, and all of God's blessings in this time of reflection and mourning for them. I must say, too often we do not recognize deeply enough those heroes who fought for freedom in World War II and have survived, many in this country, to this day as veterans and as proud veterans, and proud supporters of the freedom that this country so much enjoys.
Sam Grashio was one of those people. It is sad that he has passed away, but it is an honor for our community that he lived as long as he did and was able to enjoy not only the freedom he fought for but the great, great benefits that this country offers to all of its citizens.
Mr. Speaker, I join many others in paying tribute and offering deep sympathy at the death of Samuel Grashio, as do many, many, in Spokane Washington, and the State of Washington.
Serving with the 21st Pursuit Squadron, 24th Pursuit Group, 5th Interceptor Command, 5th Air Force, he was awarded the
Distinguished Service Cross and the Silver Star
His citations:
Distinguished Service Cross
SYNOPSIS: Second Lieutenant (Air Corps) Samuel C. Grashio, United States Army Air Forces, was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving with Philippine Guerilla Forces during the period 4 April 1943 through 12 October 1943. Second Lieutenant Grashio was one of ten men including two Naval Officers, three Air Corps Officers, and two Marine Corps Officers who escaped after nearly a year in captivity after the fall of Bataan and Corregidor. The ten men evaded their captors for days until connecting with Filipino Guerillas under Wendell Fertig. The officers remained with the guerillas for weeks, obtaining vital information which they carried with them when they were subsequently evacuated by American submarines. Their escape was the only mass escape from a Japanese prison camp during the war. The personal courage and zealous devotion to duty displayed by Second Lieutenant Grashio during this period have upheld the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, the Prisoner of War, and the United States Army Air Forces.
General Orders: Headquarters, U.S. Army Forces in the Far East, General Orders No. 76 (1943)
Rank: Second Lieutenant
Company: 21st Pursuit Squadron
Regiment: 24th Pursuit Group
Division: Prisoner of War
Silver Star Citation
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star Medal to Second Lieutenant (Air Corps) Samuel C. Grashio, United States Army Air Forces, for gallantry in action while serving as a Pilot with the 5th Interceptor Command, FIFTH Air Force, in action in the vicinity of Algoma Bay, Bataan, Philippine Islands, on the night of 1 - 2 February 1942. When the report of an attempted enemy landing force was received, Lieutenant Grashio took off individually for the area of the reported landing attempt, and proceeded to bomb and heavily strafe, returning to his base to replenish his ammunition supply after each attack. The skill and determination of Lieutenant Grashio may be attested by the success of the attack. Several enemy landing barges were destroyed, and so many casualties were inflicted that the landing attempt was repulsed. Furthermore, all airplanes and pilots returned to safety to their bases after the completion of the mission.
General Orders: Headquarters, U.S. Army Forces in the Far East, General Orders No. 21 (February 7, 1942)
Rank: Second Lieutenant
Regiment: 5th Interceptor Command
Division: 5th Air Force
After retiring from the US Air Force in 1965, He then became the assistant to the President of Gonzaga University in Spokane.
He co-authored "Return to Freedom: The War Memoirs of Colonel Samuel C. Grashio U.S.A.F.", with Bernard Nordling
COL Grashio's plight can be further found in "Captivity, Flight, and Survival in World War II" by Alan J Levine, copyright date 1 Jan 2000, "8-Dec-41: MacArthur's Pearl Harbor" by William H Bartsch, copyright date 2003, as well as the article "Valor: Death March", Air Force Magazine, Jul 1995.
COL Grashio is survived by his wife, Devonia, and an article regarding her can be found at:
http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2010/jul/17/92-year-old-woman-paints-from-the-heart/
Stephen M Mellnik retired as a BG, US Army, Stephen Michael Mellnik.
Melvyn McCoy retired as a Rear Admiral, US Navy, Melvyn McCoy.
Jack Hawkins retired as a COL, US Marine Corps, Jack Hawkins.
Austin Shofner retired as a BG, US Marine Corps, Austin Conner Shofner.
William Dyess, LTC was killed during the war in California trying to make an emergency landing, William Edwin Dyess, Abilene Army Air Base was renamed Dyess Air Force Base in his honor in 1956.
Paul H Marshall, Paul Herman Marshall
Michael Dobervich, retired as a LTC, US Marine Corps, Michael Dobervich.
Robert B Speilman, retired as a COL, US Army, Robert Blake Spielman
Leo A Boelens, 2LT, US Army, eventually caught by the Japanese and killed, Leo A Boelens.
Along with recon information provided by these men, they also provided some of the first reports of the atrocities inflicted upon US military personnel by the Japanese.
Samuel Grashio's entry into that POW camp was via the infamous Bataan Death March. Guided by one of the Filipino escapees, these men were eventually able to make contact with a band of Filipino guerilla fighters. After several months of gathering intelligence that they radioed to Australia, these POW escapees were picked up by submarines a few at a time and carried to Australia.
Upon his death in 1999, he was honored in the Congressional Record of the Congress of the United States.
With the exception of copyrighted articles, there are no restrictions on the republication of material from the Congressional Record. This is explicitly spelled out in
http://www.gpo.gov/help/about_congressional_record.htm
[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 17]
[House]
[Pages 24436-24437]
[From the U.S. Government Printing Office, www.gpo.gov]
IN RECOGNITION OF THE LIFE OF SAMUEL C. GRASHIO
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Nethercutt) is recognized for 5 minutes.
Mr. NETHERCUTT. Mr. Speaker, I want to take a moment today to recognize the life of Samuel C. Grashio, who died this past Sunday in Spokane, Washington, my hometown, and a major part of the Fifth Congressional District of Washington. Samuel Grashio was a retired Air Force Colonel and a highly decorated World War II veteran. While many years have passed since that great struggle for peace, we still remember Samuel Grashio's escape from a Japanese prisoner of war camp during the Bataan Death March. He, along with many others, made that very difficult trek and survived. America's spirit was lifted by the courage that Sam and nine other soldiers showed by escaping the prison camp and evading their captors in enemy territory for so long.
They continued their struggle for many months, alongside friendly Filipino guerillas who fought bravely to make sure that this group of Americans was able to survive. Family and friends of Samuel Grashio remember him to be a man of great faith, great courage, and great patriotism. America will remember him for being our hero and our strength during World War II.
An article appeared in the Spokesman-Review newspaper in Spokane after the death of Sam, and quoted in that article was a very close friend of mine, Seaton Daly, Senior, who has been a longtime Spokane lawyer and a great, great friend whose son and I, whose late son and I, were very, very close friends. We went through law school together and
practiced law together for years.
Seaton said at the time of Sam's death that this was a great man of faith, Samuel Grashio, and he had as his priorities in life three influences: God, family, and country, in that order. He was a great man of stature in eastern Washington and nationally for his service in World War II, and he cultivated friends like Seaton Daly, Senior, who were lifelong friends, and who grieve as Sam passed away.
Sam Grashio led a wonderful life in service to our country. We certainly wish all of Sam's family well, and all of God's blessings in this time of reflection and mourning for them. I must say, too often we do not recognize deeply enough those heroes who fought for freedom in World War II and have survived, many in this country, to this day as veterans and as proud veterans, and proud supporters of the freedom that this country so much enjoys.
Sam Grashio was one of those people. It is sad that he has passed away, but it is an honor for our community that he lived as long as he did and was able to enjoy not only the freedom he fought for but the great, great benefits that this country offers to all of its citizens.
Mr. Speaker, I join many others in paying tribute and offering deep sympathy at the death of Samuel Grashio, as do many, many, in Spokane Washington, and the State of Washington.
Serving with the 21st Pursuit Squadron, 24th Pursuit Group, 5th Interceptor Command, 5th Air Force, he was awarded the
Distinguished Service Cross and the Silver Star
His citations:
Distinguished Service Cross
SYNOPSIS: Second Lieutenant (Air Corps) Samuel C. Grashio, United States Army Air Forces, was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving with Philippine Guerilla Forces during the period 4 April 1943 through 12 October 1943. Second Lieutenant Grashio was one of ten men including two Naval Officers, three Air Corps Officers, and two Marine Corps Officers who escaped after nearly a year in captivity after the fall of Bataan and Corregidor. The ten men evaded their captors for days until connecting with Filipino Guerillas under Wendell Fertig. The officers remained with the guerillas for weeks, obtaining vital information which they carried with them when they were subsequently evacuated by American submarines. Their escape was the only mass escape from a Japanese prison camp during the war. The personal courage and zealous devotion to duty displayed by Second Lieutenant Grashio during this period have upheld the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, the Prisoner of War, and the United States Army Air Forces.
General Orders: Headquarters, U.S. Army Forces in the Far East, General Orders No. 76 (1943)
Rank: Second Lieutenant
Company: 21st Pursuit Squadron
Regiment: 24th Pursuit Group
Division: Prisoner of War
Silver Star Citation
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star Medal to Second Lieutenant (Air Corps) Samuel C. Grashio, United States Army Air Forces, for gallantry in action while serving as a Pilot with the 5th Interceptor Command, FIFTH Air Force, in action in the vicinity of Algoma Bay, Bataan, Philippine Islands, on the night of 1 - 2 February 1942. When the report of an attempted enemy landing force was received, Lieutenant Grashio took off individually for the area of the reported landing attempt, and proceeded to bomb and heavily strafe, returning to his base to replenish his ammunition supply after each attack. The skill and determination of Lieutenant Grashio may be attested by the success of the attack. Several enemy landing barges were destroyed, and so many casualties were inflicted that the landing attempt was repulsed. Furthermore, all airplanes and pilots returned to safety to their bases after the completion of the mission.
General Orders: Headquarters, U.S. Army Forces in the Far East, General Orders No. 21 (February 7, 1942)
Rank: Second Lieutenant
Regiment: 5th Interceptor Command
Division: 5th Air Force
After retiring from the US Air Force in 1965, He then became the assistant to the President of Gonzaga University in Spokane.
He co-authored "Return to Freedom: The War Memoirs of Colonel Samuel C. Grashio U.S.A.F.", with Bernard Nordling
COL Grashio's plight can be further found in "Captivity, Flight, and Survival in World War II" by Alan J Levine, copyright date 1 Jan 2000, "8-Dec-41: MacArthur's Pearl Harbor" by William H Bartsch, copyright date 2003, as well as the article "Valor: Death March", Air Force Magazine, Jul 1995.
COL Grashio is survived by his wife, Devonia, and an article regarding her can be found at:
http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2010/jul/17/92-year-old-woman-paints-from-the-heart/
Gravesite Details
Colonel, United States Air Force (Retired)
Distinguished Service Cross
Silver Star
World War II
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