The only Marine in World War II to receive the two highest U.S. military medalstheMedal of Honorand theNavy Cross, John Basilone is an excellent example of a U.S. Marine and a fighter well deserving of the medals he received. She loves studying military history, especially the World Wars, and of course military medals. By the end of the engagement, Japanese forces opposite the Marines' lines had been virtually annihilated. With his unit pinned down, Basilone made his way around the side of the Japanese positions until he was directly on top of the blockhouse. There was a trolley line that ran down Somerset Street. With the 115th pick, the Chicago Bears . George / Giorgio Basilone. In addition to his numerous medals, Basilone has received other accolades. Gunnery Sergeant Manila John Basilone was the only Marine in WWII to receive both the Medal of Honor and the Navy Cross. What The Pacific's Actors Have Done Since The Miniseries Ended, The Pacific Cast Guide: What Each Character Looks Like In Real Life, the Pacific Theatre's most brutal battles, Band Of Brothers: What Happened To David Schwimmer's Sobel. This memorial has been copied to your clipboard. For church, the Basilone Family attended the original St. Anns church which was a small wooden church where the rectory is located today. The elder Mr. Basilone was a former member of the Sons of Italy and Somerville Elks Lodge 1068, located in Bridgewater. He was the only enlisted Marine to receive both of these . Basilone Medical File, "Abstract of Medial History", February 19, 1945, Basilone USMC Personnel File. To use this feature, use a newer browser. GREAT NEWS! www.identifymedals.com Identify Medals All rights reserved - 2023. Gunnery Sergeant John Basilone was killed leading his heavy machine gun squad off the beach on Iwo Jima on February 19th, 1945. His actions helped Marines penetrate the Japanese defense and get off the landing beach during the critical early stages of the invasion. This led to the swimming Basilone's mother, Theadora Bencivenga, was born in 1889 and grew up in Manville, New Jersey, but her parents, Carlo and Catrina, also came from Benevento. Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, on 24 and 25 October 1942. Basilone's is one of three narrativesthat form the backbone of The Pacific's action, drama, and intrigue alongsideRobert Leckie (James Badge Dale) andEugene Sledge (Joseph Mazzello). [21] His widow, Lena M. Basilone, died on June 11, 1999, aged 86, and is buried at Riverside National Cemetery in Riverside, California. (reprinted by the John Basilone Stamp Campaign), John Basilone meets the Mayor of New York, List of historically notable United States Marines, List of Medal of Honor recipients for World War II, "Annual John Basilone Parade stirs feelings of patriotism, Jersey pride", "Four Distinguished Marines Saluted on U.S. Postage Stamps", United States Army Center of Military History, "Resort Style Senior Living | California Lutheran Homes | Carlsbad by the Sea", "The Story of Gunnery Sergeant John Basilone Part 3", "Burial Detail: Basilone, John (Section 12, Grave 384) Birth Date: 11/04/1916; Death Date: 02/19/1945; Interment Date: 04/20/1948", "Raritan Public Library "Basilone Room"Gy/Sgt John Basilone ribbons", "SCR 25 Gunnery Sergeant John Basilone Memorial Freeway", "company-c-fights-up-hill-battle-basilones-challenge", "Honoring One Marine To Remember Them All: WWII Hero Gets Plaque at Navy Memorial", "Raritan to honor its fallen son with 33rd Annual John Basilone Memorial Parade", "Raritan's World War II hero John Basilone inducted into NJ Hall of Fame", "JOHN BASILONE Historical Raritan (19161945)", Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, "John Basilone's Medal of Honor Ceremony remembered by Marine Sidney Phillips", United States Marine Corps History Division Gunnery Sergeant John Basilone Biography, Medal of Honor Recipients Depicted in Film, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=John_Basilone&oldid=1147215474, An entry point onto Camp Pendleton from US, US Interstate 5 from the San Diego County line to Camp Pendleton to the south is called "Gunnery Sergeant John Basilone Memorial Highway", In 1944, Army Barracks from Washington state were moved to a site in front of. After he was released from active duty, Basilone returned home and worked as a truck driver in Reisterstown, Maryland. Coming Up On TV - December 08 / Jan 09 Christmas Special. But he was a rowdy kid, so his parents decided to send him to Catholic school where the nuns might be able to provide him the discipline needed. Sorry! View George W Basilone's memorial on Fold3. The official account of Basilone's heroism at Iwo Jima states the firstMarines landed on the beaches on February 19, 1945, with the Japanese concentrating their fire at the incoming Marines from heavily fortified positions. While the enemy was hammering at the Marines' defensive positions, Sgt. He fought his way toward an airfield and assisted a Marine tank trapped in an enemy mine field, guiding the vehicle over the deadly terrain to safety even though he was under intense mortar and artillery barrages. Failed to delete memorial. Are you sure that you want to delete this flower? If you have questions, please contact [emailprotected]. Basilone was born in his home on November 4, 1916 in Buffalo, New York, the sixth of 10 children. Stouthearted and indomitable, Gunnery Sergeant Basilone, by his intrepid initiative, outstanding skill, and valiant spirit of self-sacrifice in the face of fanatic opposition, contributed materially to the advance of his company during the early critical period of the assault, and his unwavering devotion to duty throughout the bitter conflict was an inspiration to his comrades and reflects the highest credit upon Gunnery Sergeant Basilone and the United States Naval Service. Thanks for your help! John Basilone held off 3,000 Japanese troops at Guadalcanal after his 15-member unit was reduced to three men. In the forefront of the assault at all times, he pushed forward with dauntless courage and iron determination until, moving upon the edge of the airfield, he fell, instantly killed by a bursting mortar shell. During the battle, the Japanese concentrated their fire at the incoming Americans from heavily fortified blockhouses staged throughout the island. The Basilone home stood at 113 First Avenue where the Shell station is today. There are no volunteers for this cemetery. Edit a memorial you manage or suggest changes to the memorial manager. The First Ever Military Medal: Who Created it and Why. Naval Service. After completing middle school at age 15, he dropped out prior to attending high school. This relationship is not possible based on lifespan dates. Basilone, a member of the U.S. Marines, received the Congressional Medal of Honor for his action during the Battle of Guadalcanal in 1942 and the Navy Cross posthumously for more heroism in the. As for local employment John Basilone had a couple of jobs. [2] He was the sixth of ten children. . [1] His father, Salvatore Basilone, emigrated from Colle Sannita, in the province of Benevento, Italy and settled in Raritan. However, Basilone was killed by mortar shrapnel before he could see his heroism rewarded, with the American forces surrounding (and ultimately capturing) the airfield by 11:30 pm that evening. In October, he and the two machine-gun sections under his command held off an attack by a numerically far superior Japanese force. During the Battle for Henderson Field, his unit came under attack by a regiment of approximately 3,000 soldiers from the Japanese Sendai Division. Try again. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate, or jump to a slide with the slide dots. He was offered a commission, which he turned down, and was later offered an assignment as an instructor, but refused this as well. After his request to return to the fleet was approved, Basilone was assigned to "C" Company, 1st Battalion, 27th Marine Regiment, 5th Marine Division. Consistently daring and aggressive as he fought his way over the battle-torn beach and up the sloping, gun-studded terraces toward Airfield Number 1, he repeatedly exposed himself to the blasting fury of exploding shells and later in the day coolly proceeded to the aid of a friendlytankwhich had been trapped in an enemymine fieldunder intensemortarandartillerybarrages, skillfully guiding the heavy vehicle over the hazardous terrain to safety, despite the overwhelming volume of hostile fire. Saint Bernard Cemetery and Mausoleum. While stationed at Camp Pendleton, he met his future wife, Lena Mae Riggi, who was a Sergeant in the Marine Corps Women's Reserve. We have set your language to News of John's death, which had occurred on February 19th, 1945, did not reach home until March 8th, 1945, a Thursday. Next:Band Of Brothers: What Happened To David Schwimmer's Sobel. Verify and try again. You can always change this later in your Account settings. The Basilones lived on one side of the house while a Bengivenga family lived on the other side. In The Pacific part 2, "Basilone," John Basilone and the 7th Marines land on Guadalcanal to bolster the defenses around Henderson Field on the Solomon Islands. (That had opened in 1911 and is still open today.) He would become known as Manila John due to his Army service in the Philippines. The building still stands, but today appears to have no tenants. Naval Service.[11]. Even so, Basilone hated being away from his unit and the fighting and kept requesting to return to the Pacific, turning down a commission and aninstructor positionto get back with his men. Photos larger than 8Mb will be reduced. His wife, Anna Rose Grasso Basilone, died in 2000. This account already exists, but the email address still needs to be confirmed. The St. Ann's choir sung Ava Maria. Sgt. Horses,elephants andcamels have in the, World War I has just ended. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. He never completely liked all the attention from receiving the Medal of Honor. He then fought his way toward Airfield Number 1 and aided an American tank that was trapped in an enemy mine field under intense mortar and artillery barrages. In December 1944, Basilone returned to the Pacific, headed toward Iwo Jima. Basilone was deployed to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba before he took part in theinvasion of Guadalcanalin the Pacific where he would achieve his renown. [13], While stationed at Camp Pendleton, Basilone met his future wife, Lena Mae Riggi, who was a sergeant in the Marine Corps Women's Reserve. The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Navy Cross (Posthumously) to Gunnery Sergeant John Manila John" Basilone (MCSN: 287506), United States Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty while serving as a Leader of a Machine-Gun Section, Company C, First Battalion, Twenty-Seventh Marines, FIFTH Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Iwo Jima in the Volcano Islands, 19 February 1945. Then Catherine Mastice sang Manila John, just as she had done before on John Basilone Day on September 19th, 1943. APRIL 29 ROSCHON TO BEARS The Cowboys want to take a running back somewhere in this Day 3 of the NFL Draft, but that guy won't be a favored Longhorn. Share this memorial using social media sites or email. After driving trucks for a few months, he wanted to go back to Manila and believed he could get there faster as a Marine than in the Army. He was born on March 4, 1922 in the Little Italy neighborhood of Cleveland, Ohio. Toward the dawn of the battle, Basilone fought Japanese soldiers using only a .45 pistol. On October 24, 1942, during the Battle for Henderson Field, his unit came under attack by a regiment of about 3,000 soldiers from the Japanese Sendai Division using machine guns, grenades, and mortars against the American heavy machine guns. John Basilone (November 4, 1916 February 19, 1945) was a United States Marine Corps Gunnery Sergeant who received the Medal of Honor for actions during the Battle for Henderson Field in the Guadalcanal campaign, and the Navy Cross posthumously for extraordinary heroism during the Battle of Iwo Jima. Surviving are a son, John and wife Reenie of Raritan; a daughter, Carolyn Basilone Barrow and husband Maxwell of Tewksbury; a brother, Donald and wife Jean of Florida; four grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. Basilone moved an extra gun into position and maintained continual fire against the incoming Japanese forces. In one of The Pacific's most heartbreaking moments, the second half of "Iwo Jima" chronicles Basilone's landing and heroic death on Red Beach II. He enlisted in the United States Army and completed his three-year enlistment with service in the Philippines, where he was a champion boxer. [9][10] As the battle went on, ammunition became critically low. Coming Up On Christmas & New Year TV 2009/10!!! The real Basilone's request to re-join the Marines was denied at the end of 1943, with the Medal of Honor holder strictly told his newfound fame meant he was of greater importance to the home front than the physical war effort. There is 1 volunteer for this cemetery. based on information from your browser. These severe burns do little to soften Basilone's impact on the clash for Guadalcanal, with Ceda's Basilone shown repelling waves of Japanese soldiers. Awarded posthumously for actions during the World War II. Their favorite spot in the river was two blocks west of where the Basilone Statue is today. View Count: 10,046 (Recent: 35) Raritan, Somerset County, New Jersey, USA. He enlisted in the Marines, service number 287506, in July 1940 from Baltimore, Maryland, and went to recruit training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island followed by training at Marine Corps Base Quantico and New River. Include gps location with grave photos where possible. He requested a return to the fighting in the. Created: 03 Sep 2008. Try again later. There was a problem getting your location. Quickly see who the memorial is for and when they lived and died and where they are buried. Home cinema and gadget enthusiast, movie and TV fan, PC gamer and antitheist. The battle heroics of Raritans hometown hero John Basilone are well known, but what he did right here in his hometown is not well known. Flowers added to the memorial appear on the bottom of the memorial or here on the Flowers tab. Millions of Frenchmen have died in the war, the Spanish Flu is destroying. His mother, Dora Bencivenga, was born in 1889 and grew up in Manville, but her parents, Carlo and Catrina also came from Naples. No animated GIFs, photos with additional graphics (borders, embellishments. A B.A. Discover and add pictures, bio information and documents about the life of George W Basilone. Note: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. In a fierce frontal attack with the Japanese blasting his guns with grenades and mortar fire, one of Sgt. Year should not be greater than current year. From August 1942 on, Basilone and his unit1st Battalion, 7th Marines of the 1st Marine Divisionwere tasked with fighting the Japanese deep in the jungles of Guadalcanal, one of the hundreds of islands that comprise the Solomons. That was at times dangerous. When he requested again to return to the war, the request was approved. You may request to transfer up to 250,000 memorials managed by Find a Grave. The movie theatre was another popular place for kids to go to in Basilones youth. Please reset your password. In Raritan was the Empire Theatre (later called The Playhouse) on Anderson Street. There are two accounts of exactly how he died. First premiered onMarch 14, 2010, The Pacific acts as a rousingcompanion piece to HBO'sBand of Brothers, instead focussingon the United States Marine Corps's actions in the Pacific Theater of Operations within the wider Pacific War of World War II. Learn more about merges. To view a photo in more detail or edit captions for photos you added, click the photo to open the photo viewer. A Core Features Editor for Screen Rant specializing in SEO-driven content, Charles Cameron has been managing copy, data reporting, and diverse teams in various forms since 2014. Basilone's Navy Cross citation reads as follows: The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the NAVY CROSS posthumously to. Drag images here or select from your computer for Carlo Edward Basilone memorial. Oops, something didn't work. John Basilone's story as told by The Pacific is a highly accurate and stirring one, with Basilone's actions and ultimate sacrifice becoming of the Pacific Theatre's most enduring stories to this day. John Basilone held off 3,000 Japanese troops at Guadalcanal after his 15-member unit was reduced to three men. Family members linked to this person will appear here. This website uses the TMDb API but is not endorsed or certified by TMDb. As he moved along the edge of the airfield, he was killed by Japanese mortar shrapnel (based on his research for the book and miniseries The Pacific, author Hugh Ambrose suggested that Basilone was killed by a burst of small arms fire which hit him in the right groin and neck and nearly took off his left arm). There are no volunteers for this cemetery. In the 1920s there were no local public pools and air conditioning was decades away. Sgt. Resend Activation Email, Please check the I'm not a robot checkbox, If you want to be a Photo Volunteer you must enter a ZIP Code or select your location on the map. So, in this article we take a look at John Basilone when he was growing up in Raritan in the 1920s and early 1930s. There was a trolley line that ran down Somerset Street. The real events of Basilone's story at Guadalcanal are equally heroic, albeit slightly bloodier than shown in the HBO miniseries. Medal of Honor citation. He was the only enlisted Marine in World War II to receive the Medal of Honor and the Navy Cross. [8] After driving trucks for a few years, he wanted to go back to Manila and believed he could get there faster by serving in the Marine Corps rather than in the Army. (Today an office building and a dreaded jug handle are there.) Upon returning home, he worked as a truck driver in Reisterstown, Maryland. Are you adding a grave photo that will fulfill this request? Basilone Medical File, "Abstract of Medial History", February 19, 1945, Basilone USMC Personnel File. John Basilone (November 4, 1916 February 19, 1945) was a United States Marine Gunnery Sergeant who received the Medal of Honor for his actions at the Battle of Guadalcanal during World War II.
