. This is what Memorial Day or Decoration Day is all about. Famous Hookups; Nav; Celebrities. Basilone received numerous honors, including the following: John Basilone receiving the Medal of Honor in 1943. On the night of Oct. 24, 1942, on the island of Guadalcanal, a Japanese regiment of 3,000 troops attacked a handful of Marines, including Sergeant Basilone. I think my Fathers generation were legends. John Basilone whom she was aware of. He then attacked with grenades and demolitions, single-handedly destroying the entire strong point and its defending garrison. These drones can remain airborne until a target is identified at which point they set a course for that target and go out in a blaze of glory. I have had 5 combat deployments and was spooked after Bosnia,my unit had a psychiatrist I saw him off duty for a year and the military was none the wiser. She helped get us through the system and see that our needs were met at the facility. I salute her, Ms. Garner: I saw the PACIFIC documentary. I had to settle for the Army. The Marines sent him to Guantnamo Bay for his next assignment and then to Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands as a member of "D" Company, 1st Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division.[8]. To apply for a WMA Emergency Grant, you must complete the online application form and provide documentation of your financial emergency. The Incredible Story of John Basilone, U.S. Marine Today, the Women's Reserve is no more. Basilone, [] After his request to return to the fleet was approved, Basilone was assigned to "C" Company, 1st Battalion, 27th Marine Regiment, 5th Marine Division. I have written about Her for years, and a photograph of the current Headstone can be found at. Peter J. Basilone, register of wills for Baltimore County and a former state legislator, died Thursday of liver cancer at his Towson residence. Your email address will not be published. John Basilone Annihilates a Japanese Regiment in Guadalcanal We spent many, many hours together and even though her Johnny had been killed many years before she had a way of talking about him that made me feel I knew him personally. Truly a wonderful woman of strong beliefs. I stop by Lenas grave every holiday Me and my Wife Debbie put flowers and a flag on her grave. Regards, VERY fascinating story about both Gy Basilone and Sgt Lena. I had family in 1st Mar Div ahead of and had to join the Army in 73. John Basilone Obituary (1956 - 2023) - Legacy Remembers He was the only enlisted Marine to receive both of these . I never get tired of watching Pacific.My dad was in the Navy 22 yrs, served in the Pacific,in all the island hopping campaigns. Once in a while, I add a friends name to it. The Women Marines Association (WMA) Emergency Grants provide financial assistance to active duty or Veterans who are facing unexpected financial crises. I have learned that Lena was a strong willed woman which made her what she was. Basilone's wife, Lena Mae, never remarried. Naval Service.[11]. 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 21 February 2023, at 22:45. Her life and her love is a chapter sadly left untold. My father was a medic and water purification specialist. Think we need more people like Lena, your Dad, and yourself. Born on November 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. Few veterans around the world have a system like and we can make it better. Virginia Grey dated John Basilone in the past, but they have since broken up. Donald F. Basilone (1929-2022) - monumento Find a Grave John Basilone and Lena Mae Basilone | Married Divorced Children Ex I guess they are upstairs with the Lord, living in the cabin. 22 daily Regards, Doc Thats why I talk about so others are not misinformed by the media, or teachers, Paul. My cousins, and two uncles fought there and I learned quickly what Vietnam was about. I feel pontoon bridges which were being built during and after the first weakening of the main bridge should have mandated use of the pontoon bridges to save engineers lives. Lena was notified of his death on March 7, 1945 - her 32nd birthday. 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. Basilone is interred in Arlington National Cemetery, in Section 12, Grave 384, grid Y/Z 23.5. I ran into her at the Long beach veterans amdinisitration hospital and she helped through the bureaucratic maze and was with me the entire day,I have never forgottten her. Virginia Grey - Biography - IMDb At least 38 dead Japanese were credited to Sergeant Basilone -- many were killed with his Colt .45 at almost arms length. Hello All: I will also remember Audie L. Murphys wife Terrry along with Lena who helped us wounded vets navigate through the VA system and get the help we needed. I grew up learning all about both of them.The Marines were blessed to have these soldiers.This is why we are a free country by their mere presence That kept me young at heart, As a medic, who has PTSD I gotta get out or let it all hang out. I read the book Im staying with my boys. I am affiliated with many WWII and Viet Nam vets and we never talk about what happened over there as much as you have on this forum. I tried my hardest through the years to get Lena to consent to be buried in Arlington Natioal Cemetary with her Johnny. She made an effort to reconcile with them after the war when she visited and presented to the family Johns Medal of Honor. I caught the tail end of it when we had to get our ADA missiles out of there. To me as I have said before was a legend of her own in the Marine Corps. John Basilone (November 4, 1916 - February 19, 1945) was a United States Marine Gunnery Sergeant who received the Medal of Honor for his actions at the Battle of Guadalcanal during World War II. How Cpl John Mackie became the first Marine to earn the Medal of Honor. I have had female cousins who were excellent NCOs and officers.in the Israeli army.If it was not for Marines like Lena Basilone and John Basilone the marines would not be the organization they are today. Regardless of Service Branch, we all, will forever belong to a Band of Brothers and Sisters that only we can understand. Remembering John Basilone, Medal of Honor, USMC Guadalcanal The U.S. Navy named a destroyer after him in 1945, which Lena Mae christened. According to the funeral . Donald Basilone was the youngest sibling of the Basilone family, and brother of GySgt. Whether Geneva convention rules exist or not, you use weapons or do what it take to win.. John Basilone (04 November 1916 to 19 February 1945) was a United States Marine Corps gunnery sergeant who received the Medal of Honour for heroism above and beyond the call of duty during the Battle for Henderson Field in the Guadalcanal campaign, and the Navy Cross posthumously for extraordinary heroism during the Battle of . Others fought at Peleliu and Okinawa.These soldiers endured a war likes of which I hope is not repeated, but I am pessimistic with this assessment in todays world right now..HBO actually brought this very unpublicized area of WW II alive. Lena Basilone, wife of Sgt. Keep up the good work Women Marines Association! I was with her as she drew her last labored breath in the ER after weeks of trying to recover from the surgery. John met Lena at Pendleton,it took a while because Lena was her own woman and a noncomissioned officer whe eventually attained the rank of Master Sergeant, She did not rush to John immediately as you saw in the Pacific but once she did they were head over heels for each other.John was a no nonsense Gunnery Sergeant and was very good with a machine gun and thats what got him the Congressional Medal of Honor(equivalent to a Victoria Cross). Marine hero honored again with ship name - San Diego Union-Tribune i am very proud of both my brothers as they got many commendations from their service. She was the wife of John Basilone, one of the famous Marines every Marine Corps recruit learns about at boot camp. P.S. By Jeff McDonald. I agree with you, for theres more to the story then meets the eye. Parents Salvatore and Theadora Basilone. I cannot imagine what physical pain he suffered and emotional pain Lena endured. he met his future wife, Lena Mae Riggi, who was a Sergeant in the Marine Corps Women's Reserve. The Basilone Family and Raritan Learns of John's Death. I do not think man will ever exorcise the demons of war.I dont feel that the future holds a lot encouraging movement for ridding us of war. I worked every day of my EMS career to prevent this. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. Although he appreciated the admiration, he felt out of place and requested to return to the operating forces fighting the war. John Basilone MoH. May they both rest in peace and live on in the history they helped write. The younger people have never learned this and it is a strange concept to them . As I have commented she was a LEGEND as was John. It was my joy and privilege to be able to stay with her often in her home, to drive her for outings, groceries, shopping, doctor appointments or out to lunch or supper. He was 78. Basilone's mother, Theadora Bencivenga, was born in 1889 and grew up in Manville, New Jersey, but her parents, Carlo and Catrina, also came from Benevento. Lena was a pioneer and an example many Marines can follow, I forgot to comment on you father. May 10, 2013!! Thank God she had someone. December 26, 2022 by Robin. The homecoming parade occurred on Sunday, September 19 and drew a huge crowd with thousands of people, including politicians, celebrities, and the national press. Both her and her husband had each other and that was enough. Their sacrifice was NOT in vain. [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]. Im writing a piece on Lena Basilone, I am a Marine and have been looking to speak with people that could share stories about Lena, and her life of love, friendship and her service to veterans after the Marine Corps. care.If that helps you. . I wish she could see, hear and read the admiration so many have for her. She was also constantly on top of mess hall sanitation too, which hers was the best on Pendleton. Celebrity Birthdays; Celebrity Deaths; . After John Basilone's death, his wife Lena never remarried. Lena lives within a lot of us,sons of Pacific veterans and contemporary Marines and soldiers.Regards,SSG Rick ,Doc Borenstein, Hello Mrs. Barbara Garner, are an Italian lady and my name is Stella. I have my lense of combat by which I can see why the Pacific descended into the cauldron of hell that it was, both sides fought brutally with equal gusto. Thank you for your comments.My father and your fathers dedicated service in the Pacific will not be forgotten by me.The Basilones John and Lena were legends. Moving an extra gun into position, he placed it in action, then, under continual fire, repaired another and personally manned it, gallantly holding his line until replacements arrived. Lena never remarried. Blue 'Pacific' - New York Post My hero as well as her husband. If so where can I find it. She was such a compassionate, no nonsense, spirited lady. I saw how ugly war gets, but I was a medic who had to be there to minimize the suffering of both sides. Gotta gp get em.,during a hail of gunfire.Later in other conflicts it was knowledge I definitely needed and used, as it save my life. Please feel free to email me at Alison.bardeguez@usmc.mil. the bridge stood for 10 days and collapsed? I had members of my family who served in the USMC and some were on Guadalcanal and Iwo Jima. I served from Dec 73 to Jun 2007 in the Army and Air Force. Basilone's wife, Lena Mae, never remarried. He went to recruit training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, followed by training at Marine Corps Base Quantico and New River. I lost some high school buddies that went to Nam as well some in later conflicts. They were legendary icons and did their duties beyond what was required of them. I hope we can share information! Marine Corp veteran Korea Bongiovi Funeral Home, Raritan, NJ Courier News Sep. 7, 2022 Obituary of Donald Basilone Donald Basilone, 92, of Newport Richie, died August 13, 2022. Doc 1939. I am a huge fan of hers and her husband. On the night of October 24/25, 1942, some 3,000 Japanese troops attacked the U.S. Marines defending the Lunga perimeter and Henderson Field. With James Badge Dale, Joseph Mazzello, Jon Seda, Jon Bernthal. January. I served until 2007 and retired.I was both an aviation medic and ground medic. I had it easy in comparison. Ive watched the HBO series several times. David Rodgers: I found MSG Riggi was a marine of her own and even so at Long Beach VA. She said being married to John Basilone was the best thing in her life. broward health medical center human resources phone number; steve watson obituary poplar bluff mo SSG.RickDoc: I completed 33 yrs of service to the US Army.My uncles and cousins have been Marines. Why did she not want to be buried with or near him? Lena was raised in my hometown of Portland, OR. Hi Barbara! The Remagen bridge commanders I think forgot about safety, which at that time the bridge was needed to get men and equipment into Germany to sustain the offensive they started. I myself was never able to enlist or join any branch of the service due to many medical issues, but I had tried many times. I am amazed that many men did come out psychologically scarred, having no treatment.but still got their live together to function and cope To me Lenas generation was a very strong one. I tried your church and they had nothing and various places and people in Ca,You were so important to Aunt Lena. She purchased a home in Lakewood, California and lived there for over 50 years until her death. Lena Basilone, plus every picture I could find of her in her uniform showing her Sgt. The legs were long, so they were rolled up.the waist was generally too big, so the y cinched up a belt around their waist. Again, Lena Basilone was in a league of her own and very much ahead of her time. Which made him keep his accounts inside of him. Lena Basilone returns John's Medal of Honor - YouTube I could not serve in the USMC which was one of my ambitions, family members were in units I wanted to join, I settled for the Army and do not regret any of my service of 33 1/2.yrs.My dad was in the Pacific with the Marines including the Guam and Peleliu campaigns. So now Im just stoked and really want to learn more and perhaps write a book about her. Many, including Virginia herself, expected them to marry . Again it was my privilege to be with Lena during the sad days of her battles with congestive heart failure, the many calls for paramedics, the many trips to the ER. I have to just say Thank you to everyone who is in any branch of the military who reads this. I am not the Richard who posted this excellent comment. At that time women were not accepted in a mans world in the military at that time. I agree, Lena was a loyal wife to a great Marine! I rate the Pacific at about 95% correct. I served 33 1/2 years from the Vietnam Era to Iraq.. For his heroism there, he was awarded the Navy. Its why I have the attitudes I do. Not long after their wedding he shipped out to Iwo Jima and in February of 1945 he was killed in battle. May God Bless John and Lena Basilone. If a couple should ever be in Heaven its them. Also, just as deeply in awe of Johns heroism, his ultimate sacrifice, and Lenas continued devotion to him for over 50 years. Lena was a pioneer Marine and very dedicated both to the Corps and to John. Women recently won an important victory, they now can be combat arms officers. Virginia Grey Hollywood Starlet & Pin Up - WW2 DOG TAGS Although the Veterans Administration offered to bury Lena in Arlington Cemetery near her husband, she refused the offer saying she didnt want to cause trouble for anyone. He did things bigger than himself and didnt want the limelight.
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