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- The San Diego Union
Monday Morning, June 28, 1943
S.D. Medical Officer Killed In Aleutians
Captain John W. Bassett, 29, army medical corps, whose wife, Mrs. Donna Warner Bassett, resides at 3834 Frontera street, Pacific Beach, was killed in action in the Aleutians May 29, the war department announced yesterday.
His mother, Mrs. W.I. Bassett resides at 4369 Hortensia street. A brother, William I. Bassett, of Chula Vista, is in the immigration service, and a sister, Mrs. Ralph Bagley, resides in Beverly Hills.
Hilltop Grid Star
Captain Bassett was graduated from San Diego High school, where he starred in football. He attended State college in 1931-1932, going from there to the University of Southern California Medical school, from which he was graduated in 1940.
After serving as intern in the Santa Fe hospital of Los Angeles, he came to San Diego to become assistant to his father-in-law, Dr. O.H. Warner. He was called to active army duty in June, 1941. He was a member of the local chapter of Pi Delta Kappa and of Nu Sigma Nu, national medical fraternity. He also leaves a son, seven months old, John Warner Bassett.
Bassett was one of 149 United States soldiers killed in action in the war department casualty list released yesterday.
San Diego Union
November 2, 1948
Military Rites For Army Hero Set Thursday
(Died in Action, includes picture)
Military services for Captain John W. Bassett, of San Diego, Army medical corps officer, who was killed in action against the Japanese on Attu Island, will be conducted Thursday afternoon at 2:30 at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery. His body was repatriated for burial here.
Posthumously awarded the Silver Star for gallantry in action, Captain Bassett perished on May 29, 1943, during a savage Japanese counter-attack. At a forward echelon of his field hospital, he rallied a group of leaderless soldiers and directed their fire to break up the Jap attacks before he was struck by an enemy bullet.
A stream on Attu has been named Bassett Creek, in memory of his heroic stand.
S.D. Graduate
A graduate of San Diego High School, where he was an outstanding football player, Bassett attended San Diego State College in 1931-1932, and then transferred to the University of Southern California. He was graduated from the U.S.C. Medical School in 1939.
After serving as an intern at the Santa Fe Hospital, Los Angeles, he entered practice here with his father-in-law, Dr. O.H. Warner, 1419 Franciscan Way. The Army called him to active duty in January, 1941.
Survivors include his wife, Mrs. Donna Bassett, 3884 Riviera Drive, Pacific Beach; a six-year old son, John Warner Bassett, his mother, Mrs. W.I. Bassett of 4369 Hortensia Street, a brother, William I. Bassett of Chula Vista, and a sister, Mrs. Ralph Bagley, of Beverly Hills.
Bassett Army Hospital
Fort Wainwright, Alaska
April 10, 1963
Captain John Winfield Bassett, MC
Born: November 3, 1913, Spokane, Washington
Killed in Action: May 29, 1943, Attu Island
Entered service from California
Service number: 0-381 337
Family Data:
Father: William Irving Bassett
Mother: Helen F. Bassett Rogers
Wife: Donna Marie Warner
Education:
San Diego High School, 1931
A.B. University of Southern California, 1935
M.D. University of Southern California Medical School, 1940
Promotions:
First Lieutenant, Medical Reserve Corps, June 10, 1939 entered upon active duty January 13, 1941
Captain (temporary), Medical Corps, AUS, January 14, 1942
Military Service:
January 1941-May 1941 Platoon Leader, Clearing Company, 7th Medical Battalion, Fort Ord, California; additional duties, Technical Medical Instructor for two months and Supply Officer for another two-month period.
May 1941-Jun 1941 Student Officer, Medical Field Service School, Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania
July 1941-December 1942 Platoon Leader, Company "D", 7th Medical Battalion, Fort Ord and Camp San Luis Obispo, California; additional duty, Transportation Officer; temporary duty as Commanding Officer, Company "D" while on maneuvers.
Dec 1942-May 1943 Commanding Officer, Company "D", 7th Medical Battalion, Ford Ord, California, until April 1943; thereafter on Attu Island, Alaska Defense Command.
May 29, 1943 Killed in action.
Awards:
Silver Star, awarded posthumously; presented to Mrs. Donna W. Bassett (wife) at a regimental parade, Fort Rosecrans, California, November 26, 1943.
Purple Heart, awarded posthumously; certificate sent to Mrs. Donna W. Bassett, July 7, 1943.
Citation:
Silver Star
"John W. Bassett, formerly Captain, Company D, 7th Medical Battalion, 7th Infantry Division, Landing Force 51.4. For gallantry in action in Massacre Valley-Sarana Valley Pass, Attu Island, on May 29, 1943. Entered military service from California."
Narrative:
When Dr. John W. Bassett was called to extended active duty in January 1941 he was engaged in the civilian practice of medicine and surgery, having an office with Dr. Ohmer H. Warner in San Diego, California. He had distinguished himself at the University of Southern California Medical School by winning a fellowship in Biological Chemistry and had planned to obtain a Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry.
All of Captain Bassett's medico-military service was with the 7th....
The Japanese offensive in the North Pacific which began in June 1942 and ended in August 1943, was confined to the Aleutian Islands. The Japanese occupied Attu, the westernmost island of the Aleutians, in June 1942. They temporarily abandoned it, only to reoccupy it in October of the same year. However, by spring of 1943 the American offensive was well underway and, in March, plans were made to capture Attu first instead of Kiska.
Task Force 51.4, of which the 7th Medical Battalion was a part, was detailed to Alaska, with the occupation of Attu as its objective. It landed on Attu on May 11 and began attacking almost immediately. By the 28th of May, after a bitter struggle, the Japanese appeared to be subdued and contained. However, they were to make one more large scale organized but unsuccessful attempt to beat off the attackers. In the early hours of May 29 more than 1,000 of them launched a suicidal counterattack in the Chichagof area, through to the Massacre-Sarana Pass. Pushing into the Sarana Valley, the enemy overran the advance posts of the 7th Medical Battalion, where tents in two ravines were filled with casualties and medical personnel. Armed with bayonets they attacked without any warning, stabbing the scarcely awakened occupants. Those in sleeping bags were completely helpless and were killed on the spot. It was during this encounter that Captain John W. Bassett, for whom Bassett Creek on Attu Island was later named, was shot and killed while attempting to organize a defense. Of the medical battalion personnel, one other officer, a member of the Dental Corps, and seventeen enlisted men were killed; four officers and twenty-three enlisted men were wounded.
With Bassett's death the Medical Corps lost a capable and inspiring officer who surely would have gone on to fulfill the promise of achievement so clearly evidenced even in the earliest months of service to his country.
Bassett Army Hospital - History
The United States Army Hospital, Fort Wainwright, Alaska, (the only Army Hospital in Alaska), is situated in the heart of Fort Wainwright on the southeastern outskirts of the City of Fairbanks, Alaska. The need for a modern medical facility at Fort Wainwright - then Ladd Air Force Base - was recognized some years ago and under Air Force direction the project of building the new plant began in July 1951. The main hospital....
1920 Federal Census of Couer d'Alene, Kootenai County, Idaho
William I. Bassett - 47 - M - MN-MI-MI - Head - Engineer Civil
Helen F. - 39 - F - MN-ST-NW - Wife
Florence - 19 - F - MN-MN-MN - Daughter
Marion - 16 - F - CN-MN-MN - Daughter
William Jr. - 11 - M - WA-MN-MN - Son
John W. - 6 - M - WA-MN-MN - Son
& 1 Roomer
(ST - Scotland) (NW - Norway)
(Living at 586 Sherman)
1930 Federal Census of San Diego, San Diego County, California
William I. Bassett - 59 - M - MI-MI-Mi - Head - Civil Engineer Railroad
Helen F. - 50 - F - MN-ST-NW - Wife
William I. Jr. - 21 - M - WA-MI-MN - Son
John W. - 16 - M - WA-MI-MN - Son
(ST - Scotland) (NW - Norway)
(Living at 4369 Hortensia)
(Married at 28 & 22)
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Bassett Family Association Database
1913 - 1943 (29 years)