He returned home as a hero and was welcomed with parades and parties. His neighbors gave him a $5,000 war bond in appreciation for his heroism on Guadalcanal. Lena never remarried and she lived in California until her death in 1999. Date Of Birth: November 4, 1916 Date Of Death: February 19, 1945 Cause Of Death: N/A Ethnicity: Unknown Nationality: American John Basilone was born on the 4th of November, 1916. Meanwhile, Basilone had turned down an offer to be made an officer, preferring to stay in the familiar ranks of being a non-commissioned officer. He wanted, more than anything, to have a wife and a family of his own. Knowing their value for knocking out bunkers, Basilone began guiding the tanks and pointing out targets while completely exposed. An all-out combined effort of the entire Iwo Jima garrison to track down and obliterate John Basilone He was predeceased by : his parents, Eugene Felix and Helen Jean Basilone of Riverside, NJ. Funeral arrangement under the care ofBradley & Stow Funeral Home. Chesty Puller, recognizing that Basilone was the glue that had held his own platoon together, and contributed immeasurably to the annihilation of a Japanese regiment, pushed hard for official recognition for Manila John. If that had been done the year John Basilone was born he would not have had to die last month on an alien beach so far from home. During brutal fighting with heavy casualties on both sides, he killed at least 38 Japanese soldiers. You are nearing the transfer limit for memorials managed by Find a Grave. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. Just weeks after meeting, with Basilone's inevitable return to the Pacific looming, the couple decided to get married on July 10, 1944 at St. Mary's Star of the Sea Church in Oceanside, California. But then his luck ran out. John Basilone: An article in Monday's Calendar section about John Basilone, whose death on Iwo Jima was marked on the HBO series "The Pacific," described him as a Congressional Medal of. He was later assigned to the 31st Infantry and served the U.S. base in Manila, Philippines. February 19, 1945: Uncommon Valor, John Basilone Dies at Iwo Jima Type above and press Enter to search. He also apparently is the only Medal of Honor recipient to be killed in action after returning to combat. He also discovered his skills with guns. Starting Friday evening, Basilone played and whooped it up with the rest of us until the last hours of Sunday night when wed all crawl back to our transportation points and head for Camp Pendleton in a rush resembling a Roman chariot race, for at reveille on Monday, John expected us to toe the line, stone sober and ready for duty. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. Please, Shortly after 9 a.m. on Feb. 19, Basilone led C Company of the 1st Battalion, 27th Marine Regiment, ashore at Iwo. Oops, we were unable to send the email. His prime motivation was ensuring he was among the Marines who recaptured Manila, where he had served in the army in the mid 1930s. The 2010, HBOs ten part war drama miniseries The Pacific revolves around three Marines - Robert Leckie, Eugene Sledge and John Basilone - of the 1st Marine Division. He boxed in the Army, before he was sent to the Philippines. 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. Photo Credit: A machine position on Guadalcanal. She was a very determined lady, loved by many when she saw a need, she would go about filling it, said Barbara. For his bravery and actions in Guadalcanal during the Battle for Henderson field, he was honoured with United States military's highest award for valour, the Medal of Honor. Your account has been locked for 30 minutes due to too many failed sign in attempts. He was briefing his guys when a mortar scored a direct hit. Lakewood, Los Angeles County, California, USA. John Basiloneknown as Manila Johnhis fellow Marines gave him that nickname because Basilone had been a soldier in the Philippines in the late 1930skept his cool. John Basilone (1916 - 1945) - Genealogy Officially he had been killed by mortar fragments, but later analysis indicated he may have been struck with machine gun bullets. When she died, she was still wearing the wedding ring that John gave her. Among the bravest of the brave was Gunnery Sergeant John Basilone, a previous Medal of Honor winner from the Guadalcanal Campaign that was only at Iwo Jima because he demanded to be returned to action instead of staying in the mainland United States selling War Bonds. You can customize the cemeteries you volunteer for by selecting or deselecting below. Mr. Pascrell took up the cause, working closely with the National Italian-American Foundation, the Order of Sons of Italy of America, and veterans and Marine organizations to persuade the 13-member Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee to . John was killed on Iwo Jima February 19, 1945 just seven months after marrying the love of his life and seven months before the allies would declare victory in the Pacific. Lena Riggi of the Marine Corps Womens Reserve, and the two married on July 10. He opted not to go to highschool, and joined the Army looking for "adventure.". Receive obituaries from the city or cities of your choice. The tragedy of their deaths is that it ever should have become necessary for their country to ask them to make the sacrifices they have made and must continue to make until the war is won. He went across the country, mingled with the president, met movie stars and helped raise $1.4 million in War Bonds. HEROES: The Life & Death of Manila John - TIME John Basilone's last battle - Los Angeles Times John Basilone - Arlington National Cemetery John returned home to ticker-tape parades and instant nationwide fanfare. Lena was 86 years old when she died on the 11th of June, 1999. We were Basilones boys and were envied for it throughout the division. The email does not appear to be a valid email address. Although the romance was a whirlwind and the conditions were not ideal, the two seemed destined for a life together. He was even offered a commission and a position in Washington. I visited Basilone in January 1945, only days before we were to ship out. We had chased girls and swilled rum and Coca-Cola all weekend, but until Friday it would be Prepare for gun drill!, Ready, Sarge and On this line, action! with Basilones keen eye on you making sure you didnt screw up. In late 1944, after two years in the Pacific as a Marine with Carlsons Raiders, I rotated stateside and received a 30-day furlough. There was a problem getting your location. John stood up to run. 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. The Japanese had been building this airfield at the time of the Allied invasion and it was now in American hands; it was renamed Henderson Field (after a Marine aviator killed during the Battle of Midway) by the Americans. John Basilone was an American Marine from New Jersey. He was in a good emplacement, and causing the Japs lots of trouble, not only firing his machine gun but also using his pistol.. 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. John R Basilone Obituary. Basilone returned to the Pacific to continue fighting in the war. Im Staying with My Boys: The Heroic Life of Sgt. Either civilian life did not agree with Basilone or he missed life in uniform, or both. Use the links under See more to quickly search for other people with the same last name in the same cemetery, city, county, etc. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful. Chesty Puller, Gregory Pappy Boyington, Presley OBannon, John Glenn, and a host of others, but John Basilone sticks out for his sacrifice at Iwo Jima when he could well have been safe in the States. Eventually, the Corps relented. John Basilone was never able to settle down. But, while Basilone understood the admiration, and realized that his efforts had raised more than a million dollars for the war, he was uncomfortable with life on the Home Front and wanted to return to the Marine Corpsand the war in the Pacific. 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. John Basilone: The Marine Hero of Guadalcanal and Iwo Jima His answer had always been the same: Im staying with my boys. The shell had landed at his feet, sending shrapnel into his groin, neck and left arm. ), FOR THE RECORD: John Basilone: An article in Mondays Calendar section about John Basilone, whose death on Iwo Jima was marked on the HBO series The Pacific, described him as a Congressional Medal of Honor recipient. The sponsor of a memorial may add an additional. She never remarried. On Aug. 12, Basilone and his men shipped out to Hawaii, where they would train for more than five months before heading farther west, to Saipan. After his enlistment ended, he returned home and took up a job as a truck driver. A private service will follow at Veterans Administration National Cemetery in Riverside. One important event that Lena never lived to see was the dedication of a 17-mile stretch of the San Diego (5) Freeway near Camp Pendleton, to be named Gunnery Sergeant John Basilone Memorial Freeway. The official word that the resolution passed came Monday, just three days after her death. Fox Movietone News also filmed the event and the newsreel was shown in thousands of movie theaters across the country. A mortar round exploded in the hole with the four NCOs. Please let us know in the comments section below this article. He was notorious for his heroic actions on the beaches and in the jungles of the Pacific during World War II. His helmet was half off, and he lay face up, arched over his combat pack, with his jacket torn back and his mouth open.