John Basiline Research Paper
John Basilone
John Basilone was the only enlisted Marine in World War II to receive the Medal of Honor and the Navy Cross. Basilone, the son of Sicilian Napoli immigrants Salvatore Basilone and Dora Bencivenga, was born on November 4, 1916 in Buffalo, New York, and was raised in Raritan, New Jersey. At age fifteen, he completed middle school but did not go on to high school. Enlisting in the Marine Corps in July 1940, Basilone was trained at Parris Island in South Carolina. He was stationed at Guantanamo Bay before being sent to Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands as a member of Dog Company, 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division. On October 24, 1942, Japanese forces began a frontal attack at Guadalcanal, using machine guns,
grenades, and mortars against the Americans. Basilone commanded two sections of machine guns that fought for the next two days until only he and two other Marines were left standing. Sergeant Basilone moved an extra gun into position and maintained continual fire against the incoming Japanese forces. He then repaired and manned another machine gun, holding the defensive line until replacements arrived. Despite their supply lines having been cut off by enemies in the rear, Basilone fought through hostile ground to resupply his machine gunners with urgently needed ammunition. When the last of it ran out, he held off the Japanese soldiers using his .45 pistol. By the end of the engagement, Japanese forces opposite their section of the line were virtually annihilated. For his actions during the battle, John Basilone received the United States military’s highest award for valor, the Medal of Honor. In 1943, Basilone returned to the United States to participate in war bond drives. Although he appreciated the admiration, he felt out of place and requested to return to the operating forces fighting the war. The Marine Corps denied his request. He requested again to return to the war and this time the request was approved. While stationed at Camp Pendleton in California, he met his future wife, Lena Mae Riggi, who was a sergeant in the Marine Corps Women’s Reserve. After Basilone’s request to return to the fleet was finally approved, he was assigned to Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, during the invasion of Iwo Jima. On February 19, 1945, he was serving as a machine gun section leader in action against Japanese forces on Red Beach II. During the battle, the Japanese pinned his unit down, and Basilone, who was guiding a heavy vehicle over the hazardous terrain to safety, was killed by mortar shrapnel. He was posthumously awarded the Marine Corps’ second-highest decoration for valor, the Navy Cross, for extraordinary heroism. John Basilone was interred in Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia.
John Basilone was the only enlisted Marine in World War II to receive the Medal of Honor and the Navy Cross. Basilone, the son of Sicilian Napoli immigrants Salvatore Basilone and Dora Bencivenga, was born on November 4, 1916 in Buffalo, New York, and was raised in Raritan, New Jersey. At age fifteen, he completed middle school but did not go on to high school. Enlisting in the Marine Corps in July 1940, Basilone was trained at Parris Island in South Carolina. He was stationed at Guantanamo Bay before being sent to Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands as a member of Dog Company, 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division. On October 24, 1942, Japanese forces began a frontal attack at Guadalcanal, using machine guns,
grenades, and mortars against the Americans. Basilone commanded two sections of machine guns that fought for the next two days until only he and two other Marines were left standing. Sergeant Basilone moved an extra gun into position and maintained continual fire against the incoming Japanese forces. He then repaired and manned another machine gun, holding the defensive line until replacements arrived. Despite their supply lines having been cut off by enemies in the rear, Basilone fought through hostile ground to resupply his machine gunners with urgently needed ammunition. When the last of it ran out, he held off the Japanese soldiers using his .45 pistol. By the end of the engagement, Japanese forces opposite their section of the line were virtually annihilated. For his actions during the battle, John Basilone received the United States military’s highest award for valor, the Medal of Honor. In 1943, Basilone returned to the United States to participate in war bond drives. Although he appreciated the admiration, he felt out of place and requested to return to the operating forces fighting the war. The Marine Corps denied his request. He requested again to return to the war and this time the request was approved. While stationed at Camp Pendleton in California, he met his future wife, Lena Mae Riggi, who was a sergeant in the Marine Corps Women’s Reserve. After Basilone’s request to return to the fleet was finally approved, he was assigned to Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, during the invasion of Iwo Jima. On February 19, 1945, he was serving as a machine gun section leader in action against Japanese forces on Red Beach II. During the battle, the Japanese pinned his unit down, and Basilone, who was guiding a heavy vehicle over the hazardous terrain to safety, was killed by mortar shrapnel. He was posthumously awarded the Marine Corps’ second-highest decoration for valor, the Navy Cross, for extraordinary heroism. John Basilone was interred in Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia.