John Basilone
| John Basilone | |
|---|---|
John Basilone receiving the Medal of Honor in 1943
|
|
| Nickname(s) | "Manila" |
| Born |
November 4, 1916 Buffalo, New York, U.S. |
| Died | February 19, 1945 (aged 28) † Iwo Jima, Japan |
| Place of burial | Arlington National Cemetery |
| Allegiance |
 United States of America
|
| Service/branch |
 United States Army United States Marine Corps
|
| Years of service | 1934–37, 1940-45 |
| Rank |
 Gunnery Sergeant
|
| Unit | USA: D Company, 16th Infantry USA: D Company, 31st Infantry USMC: D Company, 7th Marines USMC: C Company, 27th Marines |
| Battles/wars | |
| Awards |
Medal of Honor Navy Cross Purple Heart Medal |
| Spouse(s) | Lena Mae Riggi (1944–1945) |
John Basilone (November 4, 1916 – February 19, 1945) was a United States Marine Corps Gunnery Sergeant who was killed in action during World War II. He received the Medal of Honor for heroism above and beyond the call of duty during the Battle of Guadalcanal and the Navy Cross posthumously for extraordinary heroism during the Battle of Iwo Jima. He was the only enlisted Marine to receive both of these decorations in World War II.
He enlisted in the Marine Corps on June 3, 1940, after serving three years in the United States Army with duty in the Philippines. He was deployed to Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, and in August 1942, he took part in the invasion of Guadalcanal. In October, he, and two other Marines manning two other machine guns, held off approximately 3,000 Japanese soldiers until the attack ceased. In February 1945, he was killed in action on the first day of the invasion of Iwo Jima, after he single handedly destroyed an enemy blockhouse and led a Marine tank under fire safely through a minefield.
He has received many honors including being the namesake for streets, military locations, and two United States Navy destroyers.
Basilone was born in his parents' home on November 4, 1916 in Buffalo, New York, the sixth of ten children. His first five siblings were born in Raritan, New Jersey, but the family was living in Buffalo when John was born; they returned to Raritan in 1918. His father, Salvatore Basilone, emigrated from Colle Sannita, in the province of Benevento, Italy in 1903 and settled in Raritan. His mother, Dora Bencivenga, was born in 1889 and grew up in Manville, New Jersey, but her parents, Carlo and Catrina, also came from Benevento. His parents met at a church gathering and married three years later. Basilone grew up in the nearby Raritan Town (now Borough of Raritan) where he attended St. Bernard Parochial School. After completing middle school at the age of 15, he dropped out prior to attending high school.
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