A Marine's Story: Gunnery Sergeant John Basilone

 


Gunnery Sergeant John Basilone was born on November 4, 1916, in Buffalo, New York. His family relocated to Raritan, New Jersey, and he attended the St Bernard's Parochial School through middle school. Gunnery Sergeant John Basilone worked as a golf caddy for the local country club before enlisting in the US  Army in 1934. 

During his US Army career, he was assigned to the 31st Infantry, and his duty station was in the Philippines. Gunnery Sergeant John Basilone was also an interunit boxing champion. He left the US Army at the end of his three-year contract, returned to New Jersey, and briefly worked as a truck driver.

Unhappy with civilian life, Gunnery Sergeant John Basilone wanted to return to the Philippines, and so, in 1940, he enlisted in the US Marine Corps.

Gunnery Sergeant John Basilone was first assigned to Guantanamo Bay until the attack on Pearl Harbor and the US entry into World War II when Gunnery Sergeant John Basilone was deployed to Guadalcanal with the 7th Marine Division.

On October 24, 1942, Gunnery Sergeant John Basilone earned a Congressional Medal of Honor during the Battle for Henderson Field when his unit came under attack by a force of more than 3,000 enemy soldiers. Gunnery Sergeant John Basilone commanded two sections of machine guns for two days repelling enemy soldiers. He also found his way through enemy lines to secure provisions and additional ammunition for his team. Finally, out of machine gun ammunition, Gunnery Sergeant John Basilone held the enemy at bay with his side arm and a machete. The force of enemy soldiers was almost completely annihilated. Gunnery Sergeant John Basilone and two other US Marines remained.

He returned stateside. Raritan New Jersey held a parade in his honor, which was featured in Life magazine and Fox's Movietone News, and toured the country selling war bonds. Gunnery Sergeant applied several times for a return to operational status but was denied hazardous duty until July 3, 1944, when he was assigned to the 5th Marine Division. He deployed to Iwo Jima.

Gunnery Sergeant John Basilone died during his service on February 19, 1945, when, as a machine gun section leader, enemy forces struck Red Beach. He positioned himself atop a garrison blockhouse, attacking the enemy with grenades and bombs. Gunnery Sergeant John Basilone then fought his way to Airfield Number One, where a US tank was trapped in an enemy minefield and under fire. He guided the tank to safety and, as they reached the end of the airfield, was killed by enemy shrapnel.

He rests at Arlington.


* Read about a.d. elliott's Everyday Patriot Project here*

****************************************

a.d. elliott is a wanderer, writer, and photographer currently living in Salem, Virginia. 

In addition to the travel writings at www.takethebackroads.com, you can also read her book reviews at www.riteoffancy.com and US military biographies at www.everydaypatriot.com

Her online photography gallery can be found at shop.takethebackroads.com

#TaketheBackRoads


Like my page? Please consider supporting my work by visiting my sponsors, my webshop, or by buying me a cup of coffee!


Location: Raritan, NJ 08869, USA

Popular posts from this blog

A Soldier's Story: Lieutenant Sorrell Booke - Korean War

Image
Lieutenant Sorrell Booke was born on January 4, 1930, in Buffalo, New York. Always a performer, he made impressions for the local radio stations while attending Bennet High School, where he graduated class valedictorian in 1948. After high school, Lieutenant Sorrell Booke attended Columbia University, then moved to Yale University to receive his master's degree. However, his college education was briefly interrupted by his enlistment in the US Army during the Korean War, where Lieutenant Booke served as a counterintelligence officer. In 1960, after many years spent on the stage, Lieutenant Sorrell Booke made his way to Hollywood. He took on several roles in film, including one in the movie Black Like Me, before focusing on television roles. Lieutenant Sorrell Booke was nominated for an Emmy for his role in Dr. Kildare. He also appeared on M*A*S*H and All in the Family before landing his most famous role, that of Boss Hogg, in the television series Dukes of Hazzard, a part h...
Read more

An Airman's Story: Staff Sergeant Francis Pershing McNamara

Image
Staff Sergeant Francis Pershing McNamara was born on February 19, 1943, in Pollagh, Ireland. He immigrated to the U.S. at one-month-old aboard the USS Baltic and grew up in Parma, Ohio. Staff Sergeant Francis McNamara enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Services on March 19, 1942, in response to World War II and was trained as an ariel gunner. He was assigned to the 11th Bombardment Group and deployed to the Pacific theater. On May 27, 1943, during a rescue mission, the plane he was on, the Green Hornet, crashed into the Pacific. Staff Sergeant Francis McNamara, First Lieutenant Russell Allen Phillips, and First Lieutenant Louis Zamperini were the only survivors and were adrift in the ocean. After 33 days, on June 30, 1943, Staff Sergeant Francis Pershing McNamara succumbed to starvation and exposure and was buried at sea. He is memorialized in the Court of the Missing at the Honolulu Memorial. * Read about a.d. elliott's Everyday Patriot Project here* ****************************...
Read more

A Soldier's Story: Sergeant James Oliver Rigney Jr - Vietnam War

Image
Sergeant James Oliver Rigney Jr was born in Charleston, South Carolina, on October 17, 1948. After his high school graduation, he attended Clemson University and played collegiate football. Sergeant Rigney left college after one year to enlist in the US Army. Training as a gunner, Sergeant James Oliver Rigney Jr. deployed twice to Vietnam with the 68th Assault Helicopter Squadron.   He returned to the US in 1970 and enrolled at The Citadel, where he studied physics. Sergeant James Oliver Rigney Jr. graduated in 1974 and began working for the US Navy at the Charleston Naval Shipyard.  In 1977, Sergeant James Oliver Rigney fell from a submarine in drydock, severely injuring his leg and requiring the reconstruction of his knee. His recovery process was long and was complicated by blood clots. Sergeant Rigney decided during his convalescence to become a writer. He began writing historical works under Reagan O'Neal before writing Western novels as Jackson O'Reilly. Sergeant Ja...
Read more