Samuel Grashio

Samuel Charles Grashio (April 1, 1918 – October 3, 1999)

Grashio was born and raised in Spokane, Washington. He enlisted in the Army Air Corps in September 1940. Along with the rest of the 24th Group, he ended up at Bataan, where he flew the last combat mission on April 8, 1942. and two Filipinos escaped into the jungle on Sunday, April 4, 1943. One of the other Americans was USMC Lt. Jack Hawkins, who had organized the escape. After wandering for three days in the swamp, they contacted a band of Filipino guerrillas. Grashio and Luis Morgan escaped to Australia via submarine.

Grashio was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross and the Silver Star with cluster during the war. She died in 2015. They had six children: daughters Patricia Ohlidal (deceased), Marilyn (Jim) Cline of Yakima, Judith Dawson, Mary Elizabeth Grashio, Celene (Tony) Riccelli and son Samuel (Laurie) Grashio, all of Spokane.

Awards and decorations

Command Pilot Distinguished Service Cross Silver Starwith bronze oak leaf clusterBronze Star MedalPrisoner of War MedalAir Force Presidential Unit CitationAmerican Defense Service Medalwith bronze service starAmerican Campaign MedalAsiatic-Pacific Campaign Medalwith three bronze campaign stars World War II Victory MedalArmy of Occupation MedalNational Defense Service Medalwith bronze service starAir Force Longevity Service Awardwith silver oak leaf clusterPhilippine Defense MedalPhilippine Republic Presidential Unit Citation

Distinguished Service Cross citation

Grashio, Samuel C. Second Lieutenant (Air Corps), U.S. Army Air Forces Philippine Guerilla Forces Date of Action: April 4, 1943 to October 12, 1943

Citation:

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Second Lieutenant (Air Corps) Samuel Charles Grashio, United States Army Air Forces, 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.