John Basilone

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John Basilone
November 4, 1916 - February 19, 1945
Nickname	"Manila John"
Place of birth	Buffalo, New York
Place of death	Iwo Jima, KIA
Allegiance	USMC
Years of service	1934-1937 (U.S. Army) 1940-1945 (USMC)
Rank	Gunnery Sergeant
Unit	1st Battalion 7th Marines
Battles/wars	Battle of Guadalcanal, Battle of Iwo Jima
Awards	Medal of Honor Navy Cross Purple Heart

Gunnery Sergeant John Basilone, United States Marine Corps, (November 4, 1916–February 19, 1945), was a Medal of Honor recipient for his outstanding heroism at the Battle of Guadalcanal during World War II. He was killed in action on D-day, February 19, 1945 during the Battle of Iwo Jima, where his distinguished bravery was honored with a posthumously awarded Navy Cross. He is the only enlisted Marine in WW II to have received the Medal of Honor, the Navy Cross, and the Purple Heart. Basilone is buried in Arlington National Cemetery. He is probably best known for having held off 3,000 Japanese troops at Guadalcanal after his 15-member unit was reduced to three. [1]

[edit] Biography

He was one of a family of ten children. Born in Buffalo, New York, on November 4, 1916, to Italian parents, he went to St. Bernard Parochial School in Raritan, New Jersey and enlisted in the United States Army at the age of 18. After completing his three-year enlistment in the Philippines, where he was a champion boxer, he came home and went to work as a truck driver in Reisterstown, Maryland.

In July 1940, he enlisted in the Marine Corps in Baltimore, Maryland. Before going to the Solomon Islands he saw service at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, in addition to training at the Marine Corps Base Quantico, Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island and Camp Lejeune, then called New River.

Gunnery Sergeant Basilone's buddies on Guadalcanal called him "Manila John" because he had served with the Army in the Philippines before enlisting in the Marine Corps.

The story about the 38 Japanese bodies comes from Private First Class Nash W. Phillips, of Fayetteville, North Carolina, who was in the same unit with Basilone on Guadalcanal.

"Basilone had a machine gun on the go for three days and nights without sleep, rest or food," Phillips recounted. "He was in a good emplacement, and causing the Japs lots of trouble, not only firing his machine gun but also using his pistol."

Basilone was serving with the 27th Marine Regiment, 5th Marine Division during the invasion of Iwo Jima. On Red Beach II, he and his platoon were pinned down by enemy gunfire. He single-handedly destroyed an enemy blockhouse, allowing his unit to capture an airfield. Minutes later he was killed by an enemy artillery round.

[edit] Medal of Honor citation

Basilone's bravery at Guadalcanal, while serving with the 1st Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division, is legendary. His Medal of Honor citation, signed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, reads:

For extraordinary heroism and conspicuous gallantry in action against enemy Japanese forces, above and beyond the call of duty, while serving with the 1st Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division in the Lunga Area. Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, on 24 and 25 October 1942. While the enemy was hammering at the Marines' defensive positions, Sgt. Basilone, in charge of 2 sections of heavy machineguns, fought valiantly to check the savage and determined assault. In a fierce frontal attack with the Japanese blasting his guns with grenades and mortar fire, one of Sgt. Basilone's sections, with its guncrews, was put out of action, leaving only 2 men able to carry on. Moving an extra gun into position, he placed it in action, then, under continual fire, repaired another and personally manned it, gallantly holding his line until replacements arrived. A little later, with ammunition critically low and the supply lines cut off, Sgt. Basilone, at great risk of his life and in the face of continued enemy attack, battled his way through hostile lines with urgently needed shells for his gunners, thereby contributing in large measure to the virtual annihilation of a Japanese regiment. His great personal valor and courageous initiative were in keeping with the highest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service.

[edit] Navy Cross citation

For service as set forth in the following CITATION:

For extraordinary heroism while serving as a Leader of a Machine-Gun Section, Company C, 1st Battalion, 27th Marines, 5th Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Iwo Jima in the Volcano Islands, 19 February 1945. Shrewdly gauging the tactical situation shortly after landing when his company's advance was held up by the concentrated fire of a heavily fortified Japanese blockhouse, Gunnery Sergeant Basilone boldly defied the smashing bombardment of heavy caliber fire to work his way around the flank and up to a position directly on top of the blockhouse and then, attacking with grenades and demolitions, single handedly destroyed the entire hostile strong point and its defending garrison. 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 friendly tank which had been trapped in an enemy mine field under intense mortar and artillery barrages, skillfully guiding the heavy vehicle over the hazardous terrain to safety, despite the overwhelming volume of hostile fire. 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. Stouthearted and indomitable, Gunnery Sergeant Basilone, by his intrepid initiative, outstanding skill, and valiant spirit of self-sacrifice in the face of the 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. He gallantly gave his life in the service of his country.

For the President,
/s/ JAMES FORRESTAL
Secretary of the Navy

[edit] Memorials

Sgt Lena Mae Basilone, USMC(WR), widow of John Basilone, prepares to christen the destroyer USS Basilone (21 December 1945)

His name is remembered with various honors:

• The USS Basilone (DD-824), a U.S. Navy destroyer, commissioned in 1949.
• A section of U.S. Interstate 5, outside of Camp Pendleton, California, is named the "John Basilone Memorial Highway".
• Basilone Road, an entry point into Camp Pendleton from Interstate 5, is named after him
• Basilone Drop Zone on Camp Pendleton is named for John Basilone as well.
• The football field at Bridgewater-Raritan Regional High School is named "Basilone Field", and on the wall of the fieldhouse next to the field is a mural honoring Basilone.
• An overpass at the Somerville Circle, Somerville, New Jersey on US Highways 202 and 206 is named after Basilone.
• The New Jersey Turnpike bridge across the Raritan River is named the "Basilone Bridge".
• A memorial statue featuring a likeness of Sgt. Basilone holding a heavy machinegun is located at the intersections of Old York Road and Main Street in Raritan, New Jersey.
• A plaque at the U.S. Navy Memorial in Washington, D.C.

Basilone's service to country and Corps was recognized with the November 10, 2005 issuance "Distinguished Marines" by the U.S. Postal Service stamps honoring four Marine Corps heroes. These stamps honored Basilone, Daniel J. Daly, John A. Lejeune, and Lewis B. "Chesty" Puller.[2]

[edit] See also

United States Marine Corps Portal

• List of Medal of Honor recipients

[edit] References

• This article incorporates text from public domain material from the United States Marine Corps.
• Biography from the USMC Historical & Museum Divsion
• Arlington National Cemetery biography
• Medal of Honor biography

[edit] External links

• Sgt. John Basilone Foundation
• John Basilone Development Company
• Destroyers Online - USS Basilone
• Destroyers.org USS Basilone
• John Basilone Parade
• Honoring One Marine To Remember Them All: WWII Hero Gets Plaque at Navy Memorial, Washington Post, by Alec MacGillis, May 29, 2006