john basilone cause of death
The Pacific, 'Part Eight': Basilone on Iwo Jima - nj.com Bradley & Stow Funeral Home Outside again, I was surprised to see a young Marine smiling at me. I walked around and asked, Is this Basilone?, A guy I knew said, Yeah. In 21 Dec 1945 Lena christened a Navy destroyer ship named the USS Basilone in her husband's honor. Basilone returned to the Pacific to continue fighting in the war. Use the links under See more to quickly search for other people with the same last name in the same cemetery, city, county, etc. He talked about the experience so often that his fellow Marines had nicknamed him Manila John.. His simplicity, his cheerfulness, his grasp of human nature the charm and easy grace with which he carried his honors gave us not only confidence but pride. John Basilone was born on 4 November 1916, to Salvatore Basilone and Theadora Bencivenga. But before he left, a romance blossomed between him and Lena. He met his future wife, Lena Mae Riggi, while she was serving as a Marine Corps Women's Reserve officer at Camp Pendleton. All photos appear on this tab and here you can update the sort order of photos on memorials you manage. The U.S. The email does not appear to be a valid email address. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases via links in the Historical Evidence sections of articles. This account already exists, but the email address still needs to be confirmed. He loved his country and he loved the brothers who fought by his side. During a heavy enemy attack in Guadalcanal, Basilone and his men defeated thousands of Japanese troops while he single-handedly repaired and manned multiple machine guns and risked his life. The March 9 New York Times included an editorial titled John Basilone, Hero. It concluded with the following passage: Being a marine fighting man, and therefore a realist, Sergeant Basilone must have known in his heart that his luck wouldnt last forever. Hugh Ambrose offers an excellent reconstruction in. Previously sponsored memorials or famous memorials will not have this option. As the first enlisted Marine to earn the Medal of Honor in the war, for his heroic actions on Guadalcanal in October 1942, Basilone became something of a reluctant celebrity. A month after their wedding, in the same setting that they first met, the newlyweds bid farewell in a Camp Pendleton chow hall. Officially he had been killed by mortar fragments, but later analysis indicated he may have been struck with machine gun bullets. Just three days after Lena's death a resolution was passed naming a 17 mile stretch of the San Diego (I-5) Freeway near Camp Pendleton 'Gunnery Sergeant John Basilone Memorial Highway'.Although the Veterans Administration offered to bury Lena in Arlington Cemetery near her husband, she refused the offer saying she "didn't want to cause trouble for anyone". In any event, believing that life as a Marine would be better, Basilone enlisted in Baltimore, Maryland, in July 1940. This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Marine Corps Gunnery Sergeant who earned the Medal of Honor for his bravery at Guadalcanal. John Basilone (November 4, 1916 - February 19, 1945) was a United States Marine Corps Gunnery Sergeant who received the Medal of Honor for heroism above and beyond the call of duty during the Battle for Henderson Field in the Guadalcanal campaign, and the Navy Cross posthumously for extraordinary heroism during the Battle of Iwo Jima. Try again. She spent the remaining 54 years of her life in California where she would continue serving in the Marine Corps and volunteering throughout her community. Officially he had been killed by mortar fragments, but later analysis indicated he may have been struck with machine gun bullets. John Basilone was both a lover and a fighter. Once again ignoring the enemy fire around him, Basilone ran some 200 yards through hostile lines to an ammunition point, where he gathered up shells and then battled back to his gunners with the ammunition they needed to defend their position. Born on November 4, 1916 in Ruritan, New Jersey, Basilone was the six of ten children in an Italian family and would grow up as a tough young man. Just a fun loving guy John, his arms covered with hair, stood back surveying a perfectly grotesque job hed just performed on another guy. John Basilone was one of the elite few of our nation to be awarded with the national Medal of Honor. This site requires JavaScript to run correctly. His neighbors gave him a $5,000 war bond in appreciation for his heroism on Guadalcanal. Which Heavyweight Boxing Champions were former US Marines? "She held up pretty well while we talked. Sgt Lena Mae Riggi Basilone (1913-1999) - Find a The words echoed in my ears long after Id left him. Thank you for fulfilling this photo request. Learn more about managing a memorial . He was briefing his guys when a mortar scored a direct hit. In command of 2 machine gun sections, the sector assigned to Johns guns came under heavy and direct attack from fanatical Japanese making a determined attack against the greatly outnumbered Marines. Red Blood, Black Sand: Fighting Alongside John Basilone from Boot Camp to Iwo Jima. During a Japanese attack in 1942, Sgt. . He was a thin, pallid kid. WORLD WAR II, EIGHTIES, MUSIC, HISTORY, HOLOCAUST. The parade, held since 1981, is the pride of the town and attracts a large number of spectators. Lena Mae Riggi was born on March 7, 1913 in Portland, Oregon. When it has needed them the United States always has had men like him. To do this hed have to recross the steep volcanic beach where many Marines were still pinned down by the enemys relentless shelling and well-camouflaged pillboxes. You may request to transfer up to 250,000 memorials managed by Find a Grave. In any event, on February 19, 1945, Basilone waded ashore with his platoon on Red Beach II, located on the southern tip of the island near Mt. He got a job as a caddy at a local golf club where he worked for the next couple of years before ultimately deciding to join the US army. On her 32nd birthday, Lena learned that John had been killed in action when she received a telegram: Deeply regret to inform you that your husband, Gunnery Sergeant John Basilone, USMC, was killed in action February 19, 1945 at Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands, in the performance of his duty and service to his country. It was while defending this airstrip that John Basilones unit came under massive attack from 3000 strong Japanese Sendai Division that lodged grenades, machine gun shells and mortar fire. They dated a few months, then married in July 1944. John Basilone was the son of an Italian immigrant father (a tailor by trade) and one of 10 children. The Japanese had been defeated and their soldiers were killed in the attack. You have chosen this person to be their own family member.
