December 27, 1911

Corydon Wassell married Mary Irene Yarnell of Tillar (Desha County), where he had served for a short time as a medical doctor. In 1914, Wassell and his wife volunteered to serve in China as medical missionaries, where they worked for twelve years. The couple had four children. Mary Wassell died in China in 1927. Real Admiral Wassell was recognized as one of the first national heroes of World War II for his services to men wounded in Java by Japanese forces. He was given the Navy Cross and was praised in a fireside chat by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. A movie starring Gary Cooper was made of his experiences.