William W. Ashurst
William Wallace Ashurst (October 30, 1893 – February 18, 1952) was a brigadier general in the United States Marine Corps, who was a last commander of the North China Marine Detachment. He was captured by Japanese forces on December 8, 1941, and was held in captivity for the rest of the war. Early years. Ashurst was born on October 30, 1893, in Green Ridge, Missouri. He attended the Wentworth Military Academy in Lexington, Missouri, and was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Marine Corps Reserve on May 21, 1917. He was assigned to the Marine Corps Rifle Range  in Winthrop, Maryland, before he embarked for France. He received the regular Marine Corps commission in September of the same year. During World War I, Ashurst fought with the 5th Marine Regiment, 2nd Division within American Expeditionary Force. In June 1918, he was wounded while leading an attack on a German machine gun post during the Battle of Belleau Wood. For his service during the battle, he was decorated for gallantry in action with the Silver Star He was also awarded the Croix de Guerre 1914–1918 with Gilt Star by the government of France. Interwar period. Ashurst returned to the  United States in April 1920 and was assigned to Marine Barracks Portsmouth, New Hampshire. He attended the advanced course at Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, in June 1935 and served on various marine posts. In 1939, he was a battalion commander in the 6th Marine Regiment stationed in San Diego, California. In this capacity, his direct superior was Samuel L. Howard, also a prisoner of war from the Battle of Corregidor. World War II. In December 1941, then-Colonel Ashurst was commander of the North China Marine Corps Detachment and a commander of the Guard Unit  at the United States Embassy in Beijing, China. When Japan attacked the United States, Ashurst and the marines and U.S. Navy personnel under his command were captured on December 8, 1941, by Japanese forces and interned in a prisoner of war camp in Shanghai until June 1945. For his actions during the internment in Shanghai, Ashurst was awarded the Legion of Merit. He was subsequently promoted to the rank of brigadier general. Death. Ashurst died on February 18, 1952, aged 58. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery, Virginia. Legion of Merit citation. https://web.archive.org/web/20131225213303/http://projects.militarytimes.com/citations-medals-awards/recipient.php?recipientid=75034 Decorations. Here is the ribbon bar  of Brigadier General William W. Ashurst, USMC: