The Japanese soon invaded Java. The U.S. Navy gave orders that all US personnel were to be evacuated. The wounded were to be evacuated as well, but only those that could walk. Dr. Wassell moved the wounded to the port to be evacuated. He tried to get twelve sailors onboard ship that could not walk, but they were denied boarding. Dr. Wassell decided to stay behind with these twelve sailors to care for them while they waited for the Japanese to capture them. However, Dr. Wassell then decided to try to get the men to the coast to be evacuated on another ship. Dr. Wassell managed to transport these wounded men to the coast, all the while keeping just ahead of the Japanese forces. Dr. Wassell managed to get them onboard a ship called the M.S. Janssens. From there they managed to reach the harbor of Fremantle, Australia.
At a time when the war was going so badly for the Allies, the courage of Dr. Wassell became legendary. He was awarded the Navy Cross. President Roosevelt told of Dr. Wassell's exploit during a radio address in 1942. A book was written about the incident entitled The Story of Dr. Wassell by James Hilton. A movie was even produced by Cecil B. DeMille titled The Story of Dr. Wassell. According to his great grandson, all of the proceeds that Dr. Wassell received from the movie were donated to a hospital for the deaf and blind in Little Rock, Arkansas.
Dr. Wassell died on May 12, 1958 in Little Rock, Arkansas. He was 74 years old. He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.
The Japanese soon invaded Java. The U.S. Navy gave orders that all US personnel were to be evacuated. The wounded were to be evacuated as well, but only those that could walk. Dr. Wassell moved the wounded to the port to be evacuated. He tried to get twelve sailors onboard ship that could not walk, but they were denied boarding. Dr. Wassell decided to stay behind with these twelve sailors to care for them while they waited for the Japanese to capture them. However, Dr. Wassell then decided to try to get the men to the coast to be evacuated on another ship. Dr. Wassell managed to transport these wounded men to the coast, all the while keeping just ahead of the Japanese forces. Dr. Wassell managed to get them onboard a ship called the M.S. Janssens. From there they managed to reach the harbor of Fremantle, Australia.
At a time when the war was going so badly for the Allies, the courage of Dr. Wassell became legendary. He was awarded the Navy Cross. President Roosevelt told of Dr. Wassell's exploit during a radio address in 1942. A book was written about the incident entitled The Story of Dr. Wassell by James Hilton. A movie was even produced by Cecil B. DeMille titled The Story of Dr. Wassell. According to his great grandson, all of the proceeds that Dr. Wassell received from the movie were donated to a hospital for the deaf and blind in Little Rock, Arkansas.
Dr. Wassell died on May 12, 1958 in Little Rock, Arkansas. He was 74 years old. He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.