On February 19, 1945, he was serving as a machine gun section leader in action against Japanese forces on Red Beach II. As he ran, Basilone killed several Japanese soldiers with his Colt .45 pistol. A little later, with ammunition critically low and the supply lines cut off, Sgt. This browser does not support getting your location. Including the Medal of Honor, he has received many honors, including having base streets, military facilities, and two United States Navy destroyers named for him. A little later, with ammunition critically low and the supply lines cut off, Sgt. As he moved along the edge of the airfield, he was killed by Japanese mortar shrapnel. Oops, we were unable to send the email. 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. You are using an out of date browser. Continuing with this request will add an alert to the cemetery page and any new volunteers will have the opportunity to fulfill your request. Flowers added to the memorial appear on the bottom of the memorial or here on the Flowers tab. He was the only enlisted Marine in World War II to receive the Medal of Honor and the Navy Cross. The elder Mr. Basilone was a former member of the Sons of Italy and Somerville Elks Lodge 1068, located in Bridgewater. [5] In the Army, Basilone was initially assigned to the 16th Infantry at Fort Jay, New York, before being discharged for a day, reenlisting, and being assigned to the 31st Infantry.[6][7]. Please enable JavaScript in your browser's settings to use this part of Geni. In the summer months he was a caddy at the Raritan Valley Country Club. There is a problem with your email/password. He was a member of the John Basilone Parade Committee honoring his late brother, the Marine Corps sergeant from Raritan who was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor. While Sledge and Leckie both struggle to adapt to their respective baptisms of fire in The Pacific's theatre of war, John Basilone's (Jon Seda) heroism lights up the miniseries' early episodes in stark contrast to his compatriots. I thought you might like to see a memorial for CPL George William Basilone I found on Findagrave.com. Raritans Augie Sena said in a 2004 interview that all a kid needed was a nickel and they could get on the trolley. To view a photo in more detail or edit captions for photos you added, click the photo to open the photo viewer. He left for Camp Pendleton, California, for training on December 27. A fair number of veterans interviewed for this project claimed to have been nearby when John Basilone was killed. The family soon came back to Raritan and in a few years moved in at 113 First Avenue. or don't show this againI am good at figuring things out. Try again. Learn more about merges. You may request to transfer up to 250,000 memorials managed by Find a Grave. Please check your email and click on the link to activate your account. No animated GIFs, photos with additional graphics (borders, embellishments. The movie theatre was another popular place for kids to go to in Basilones youth. In the 1920s there were no local public pools and air conditioning was decades away. In Somerville there were two more theatres The Regent Theatre and The Cort Theatre. George / Giorgio Basilone. Born onNovember 4, 1916 in Ruritan, New Jersey, Basilone was the six of ten children in an Italian family and would grow up as a tough young man. The Basilones lived on one side of the house while a Bengivenga family lived on the other side. Don Basilone, brother of the ship . Upon returning home, he worked as a truck driver in Reisterstown, Maryland. Are you sure that you want to report this flower to administrators as offensive or abusive? 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. The two-family house, once occupied on one side by the Basilones and the other side by the Bengivengas, was inherited by the Bengivenga family. You can customize the cemeteries you volunteer for by selecting or deselecting below. In this field they played a variety of sports including baseball and football. After attending training, Basilone deployed to Guantnamo Bay, Cuba, the Solomon Islands and eventually to Guadalcanal where he held off 3,000 Japanese troops after his 15-member unit was reduced to two other men. He was the only enlisted Marine to receive both of these . AVForums.com is owned and operated by M2N Limited, She has authored three history books for young adults and transcribed interviews of World War II veterans. 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 theUnited States Naval Service. Over time the road that the house was on became a main road. [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. Citadel's $300M gamble, 3 Musketeers, Evil Dead Rise, Superman 4K, Three Colours 4K, and good TV! Gunnery Sergeant John Basilone was killed leading his heavy machine gun squad off the beach on Iwo Jima on February 19th, 1945. Please enter your email and password to sign in. [17][18][19], His actions helped Marines penetrate the Japanese defense and get off the landing beach during the critical early stages of the invasion. 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. All photos appear on this tab and here you can update the sort order of photos on memorials you manage. Thanks for your help! He would settle in Raritan and meet Dora Bengivenga at a church dance. The two would wed on July 10, 1944. Include gps location with grave photos where possible. ). All of them give different versions, but they agree that a mortar round killed John, which is the version found in written accounts. Are you adding a grave photo that will fulfill this request? Naval Service. Just before his 18th birthday, Basilone enlisted in the U.S. Army and served in thePhilippinesas an infantryman from 1934 to 1937. A system error has occurred. While stationed at Camp Pendleton, he met his future wife, Lena Mae Riggi, who was a Sergeant in the Marine Corps Women's Reserve. Brother of Angelo Basilone; Alfonso / Alphonse Basilone; Deloris Basilone; George / Giorgio Basilone; Mary Grace Basilone and 4 others; Phyllis Dorothy Basilone; Carlo Edward Basilone; Katherine Basilone and Private less. Spurred on by Basilone's bravery, the 27th regiment fought toward Iwo Jima'sAirfield Number 1 before becoming entrenched in the center of the day's bloodiest fighting. His great personal valor and courageous initiative were in keeping with the highest traditions of the U.S. Iwo (AP), Nov 4 1916 - Buffalo, Erie, New York, United States, Feb 19 1945 - Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands, Ogasawara, Japan, Salvatore " Sallie" Basilone, Theodora " Dora" Basilone (born Bengivenga). I belong back with my outfit.. 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. Guest Contributor:Rachel Basingeris a former history teacher turned freelance writer and editor. We will review the memorials and decide if they should be merged. Weve updated the security on the site. Try again. Basilone's heroics include an attempt to relocate his heavy machine gun, still hot from the extended fire, burning his hands in the process. Their favorite spot in the river was two blocks west of where the Basilone Statue is today. Please contact Find a Grave at [emailprotected] if you need help resetting your password. He received the Navy Presidential Unit Citation with one star, theAmerican Defense Service medalwith one star, theAmerican Campaign medal, theAsiatic-Pacific Campaign medal, and theWorld War II Victory medal. During the battle, the Japanese concentrated their fire at the incoming Americans from heavily fortified blockhouses staged throughout the island. George W Basilone, Alphonse Francis Basilone, Carlo E Basilone, Mary Basilone, Catherine Basilone, Angelo C Basilone, Phyllis Minnie Basi 1940 - 113 First Avenue, Raritan, Bridgewater, Somerset, New Jersey, USA, Catherine Basilone, Mary Basilone, Alfonso Basilone, George Basilone, Delores Basilone, Donald Basilone, McClellan Gate, Arlington, Virginia, United States, Norwalk bills are listed With Fifth Marine Division. Basilone, in charge of 2 sections of heavy machineguns, fought valiantly to check the savage and determined assault. Thank you for fulfilling this photo request. He was offered a commission, which he turned down, and was later offered an assignment as an instructor, but refused this as well. You may not upload any more photos to this memorial, This photo was not uploaded because this memorial already has 20 photos, This photo was not uploaded because you have already uploaded 5 photos to this memorial, This photo was not uploaded because this memorial already has 30 photos, This photo was not uploaded because you have already uploaded 15 photos to this memorial. [4], Basilone enlisted in the United States Army in July 1934[4] and completed his three-year enlistment with service in the Philippines, where he was a champion boxer. Birthdate: 1922. During his stint at Camp Pendleton, he meets Lena Riggi (Annie Parisse), who quickly becomes Lena Basilone after the two fall head over heels for each other. John Basilone, Medal of Honor ; Phyllis Dorothy Basilone ; Mary Grace Basilone ; George / Giorgio Basilone ; Alfonso / Alphonse Basilone and 4 others ; Deloris Basilone ; Carlo Edward Basilone ; Katherine Basilone and Private less As in Guadalcanal, Basilone started attacking a heavily-fortified blockhouse with grenades and demolitions, single-handedly destroying an enemy strong point. Basilone Medical File, "Abstract of Medial History", February 19, 1945, Basilone USMC Personnel File. An email has been sent to the person who requested the photo informing them that you have fulfilled their request, There is an open photo request for this memorial. His arrival was highly publicized and his hometown held a parade in his honor when he returned. Learn more about managing a memorial . This is a carousel with slides. There are no volunteers for this cemetery. A bust of Basilone is sited at Piazza Basilone, in, The Order of the Sons of Italy In America Lodge #2442 in, This page was last edited on 29 March 2023, at 14:39. Becoming a Find a Grave member is fast, easy and FREE. John Basilone, who received the Medal of Honor and the Navy Cross for his heroism in the Battle . 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. When he requested again to return to the war, the request was approved. https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=19842. 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. John Basilone, Medal of H. brother Phyllis Dorothy Basilone sister Mary Grace Basilone sister Angelo Basilone brother George / Giorgio Basilone brother 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. 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. 0 cemeteries found in Bridgewater Township, Somerset County, New Jersey, USA. Naval Service.[11]. BASILONE'S sections, with its gun crews, was put out of action, leaving only 2 men able to carry on. Basilone just wanted to be a plain Marine allegedly saying, I aint no officer and I aint no museum piece. Use Escape keyboard button or the Close button to close the carousel. It was no big deal and very common for young kids to walk to Somerville alone. Word soon spreads of Basilone's heroics at Guadalcanal, with his Medal of Honor making him a national hero almost overnight. [21] His widow, Lena M. Basilone, died on June 11, 1999, aged 86, and is buried at Riverside National Cemetery in Riverside, California. He then repaired and manned another machine gun, holding the defensive line until relief arrived. By the end of the engagement, Japanese forces opposite the Marines' lines had been virtually annihilated. Failed to report flower. 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. The local kids were fortunate as there were three local theatres. (Today an office building and a dreaded jug handle are there.) He then repaired and manned another machine gun, holding the defensive line until replacements arrived. However, after being offered, and subsequently turning down, both a commission and a role as a military instructor, Basilone once again applied to re-enlist. arino (born Basilone), Mary Grace Basilone, Carlo Edward Basilone, Alphonse Francis Basilone, Giorgio W. " George" Basilone, Dolores Hawk Nov 4 1916 - Buffalo, Erie County, New York, USA, Salvatore Basilone, Theodora Basilone (born Bengivenga), Minnie Basiloni, Angelo Carlo Basilone, Carlo Edward Basilone, Minnie Basiloni, Angelo Carlo Basilone, Katherine Basiloni, Mary Basiloni, Carlo "charles" Edward Basilone, Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia, United States, Birth of GySgt. On July 3, 1944, he reenlisted in the Marine Corps. Drag images here or select from your computer for CPL George William Basilone memorial. While the enemy was hammering at the Marines' defensive positions, Sgt. Due to his great acts of valor, Basilone was awarded theMedal of Honorand promoted to Gunnery Sergeant, becoming the first enlisted U.S. Marine to earn the Medal of Honor duringWorld War II. Found more than one record for entered Email, You need to confirm this account before you can sign in. Oops, something didn't work. Include gps location with grave photos where possible. Make sure that the file is a photo. On October 24, 1942, Japanese forces began a frontal attack using machine guns, grenades, and mortars against the American heavy machine guns. [2] He was the sixth of ten children. They later married. Lena Basilone He also was a reservist with the Raritan Police Reserves. Please enter your email address and we will send you an email with a reset password code. He was one of only three Marines in that group to survive. Please complete the captcha to let us know you are a real person. Powered by Xenforo, Hosted by Nimbus Hosting, Original design Critical Media Ltd. Son of Salvatore Basilone and Dora Basilone Husband of Mary Elizabeth Basilone Brother of GySgt.
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