I'm Staying with My Boys: The Heroic Life of Sgt. John Basilone, USMC John Basilone 65 years ago on the volcanic rock island of Iwo Jima. Europe's busiest forums, with independent news and expert reviews, for TVs, Home Cinema, Hi-Fi, Movies, Gaming, Tech and more. The real Basilone's request to re-join the Marines was denied at the end of 1943, with the Medal of Honor holder strictly told his newfound fame meant he was of greater importance to the home front than the physical war effort. Edit a memorial you manage or suggest changes to the memorial manager. He gallantly gave his life in the service of his country. After the parade, he toured the country raising money for the war effort and achieved celebrity status. This browser does not support getting your location. Johns cousin Carl Bengivenga recalled that once Carl, John, and another kid were speeding down the hill when they realized that they were on a collision course with a car. While the Marines landed, the Japanese concentrated their fire at the incoming Marines from heavily fortified blockhouses staged throughout the island. So, on a hot summer day John and dozens of other boys would swim in the Raritan River. As battle raged, ammunition became critically low. Save to an Ancestry Tree, a virtual cemetery, your clipboard for pasting or Print. You may request to transfer up to 250,000 memorials managed by Find a Grave. Hes quite a legend in the United States Marine Corps and should be for the general population as well because of his incredible feats. Your new password must contain one or more uppercase and lowercase letters, and one or more numbers or special characters. It was open 1888-1938. Share this memorial using social media sites or email. Despite their supply lines having been cut off by enemies who had infiltrated into the rear, Basilone fought through hostile ground to resupply his heavy machine gunners with urgently needed supplies. 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. She has authored three history books for young adults and transcribed interviews of World War II veterans. The producers chose to film the latter version of events. or don't show this againI am good at figuring things out. [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]. This is a carousel with slides. You can always change this later in your Account settings. Girls did not swim in the river for obvious reasons. In Johns day kids played outside unsupervised. In her free time, Rachel is a voracious reader and is a runner who completed her first half marathon in May 2019. Naval Service.[11]. He went to recruit training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, followed by training at Marine Corps Base Quantico and New River. This store was beloved by Raritan kids. You can customize the cemeteries you volunteer for by selecting or deselecting below. In February 1945, he was killed in action on the first day of the invasion of Iwo Jima, after he single-handedly destroyed an enemy blockhouse and led a Marine tank under fire safely through a minefield. This relationship is not possible based on lifespan dates. Translation on Find a Grave is an ongoing project. Basilone's sections, with its guncrews, was put out of action, leaving only 2 men able to carry on. He would settle in Raritan and meet Dora Bengivenga at a church dance. Husband of MSgt. He left for Camp Pendleton, California, for training on December 27. He received the Medal of Honor for heroism above and beyond the call of duty during the Battle of Guadalcanal and the Navy Cross posthumously for extraordinary heroism during the Battle of Iwo Jima. Copyright 2000-2023 M2N Limited E. & O.E. For church, the Basilone Family attended the original St. Anns church which was a small wooden church where the rectory is located today. Naval Service.[11]. HBO's 'The Pacific' highlights heroic story of N.J.'s John Basilone Basilone worked as a golf caddy for the local country club before joining the military. Share this memorial using social media sites or email. location being labeled the bare ass beach. No animated GIFs, photos with additional graphics (borders, embellishments. John Basilone held off 3,000 Japanese troops at Guadalcanal after his 15-member unit was reduced to three men. Raritan, Somerset County, New Jersey, USA. John Basilone, Medal of Honor at Iwo Burial of GySgt. On October 24, 1942, Japanese forces began a frontal attack using machine guns, grenades, and mortars against the American heavy machine guns. So, in this article we take a look at John Basilone when he was growing up in Raritan in the 1920s and early 1930s. Are you sure that you want to delete this flower? Resend Activation Email, Please check the I'm not a robot checkbox, If you want to be a Photo Volunteer you must enter a ZIP Code or select your location on the map. 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. Carlo E. Basilone, 90, died Dec. 9, 2005. John Francis Basilone 1916 - 1945 . Are you sure that you want to report this flower to administrators as offensive or abusive? Use tab to navigate through the menu items. Try again later. For memorials with more than one photo, additional photos will appear here or on the photos tab. cemeteries found in Bridgewater Township, Somerset County, New Jersey, USA will be saved to your photo volunteer list. Although Jon Ceda's Basilone appears as a bastion of virtue and, in many ways, the ideal of American resolve and fortitude during World War II, his portrayal of the famed Gunnery Sergeant is right on the money. However, in John's case, something got mixed up. Written by Laurence Andries, Bruce C. McKenna Directed by Bruce C. McKenna Basilone, "The Hero of Guadalcanal," continues on the bond drive tour with beautiful starlet Virginia Grey. He would settle in Raritan and meet Dora Bengivenga at a church dance. Year should not be greater than current year. Photos larger than 8Mb will be reduced. Death of GySgt. Carlo Edward Basilone (1915-2005) - Find a Grave Memorial Modified: 05 Oct 2017. George William Basilone 1922 . As in Guadalcanal, Basilone started attacking a heavily-fortified blockhouse with grenades and demolitions, single-handedly destroying an enemy strong point. After having 5 children Sal and Dora temporarily moved away from Raritan to Buffalo. The Basilones lived on one side of the house while a Bengivenga family lived on the other side. The Marines successfully held off the attack until one gun crew was disabled by enemy fire. ). . Try again later. The email does not appear to be a valid email address. Failed to report flower. 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 Memorial Parade in Raritan NJ returns Sept. 18 The military's standard procedure is to notify the family before the media. 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. After he was released from active duty, Basilone returned home and worked as a truck driver in Reisterstown, Maryland. When kids wanted to head in a direction that the trolley did not go, hitch hiking was a popular option. Alfonso / Alphonse Basilone (1920 - 1998) - Genealogy Made and Maintained by Yisela Alvarez Trentini, The Inter Allied Victory Medal (Great Britain), http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/johnbasi.htm, https://explorethearchive.com/john-basilone, The Incredible Story of John Basilone, U.S. Marine, The Tank Corps and Royal Tank Regiment: Their Medals and History WW1, WW2, Sergeant Stubby and Sergeant Reckless, Decorated Dog and Horse, The Maginot Line: A Defensive Barrier for World War II, Why Are People Awarded Medals? Carl said that he and the other kids froze in fear, but John Basilone - displaying coolness in this potentially deadly situation - managed to dig his heels into the ground flipping the sled over so they avoided being hit by the car. After having 5 children Sal and Dora temporarily moved away from Raritan to Buffalo. There is 1 volunteer for this cemetery. Related:The Pacific Cast Guide: What Each Character Looks Like In Real Life. A Japanese regiment that numbered 3,000 men began to attack the small crews of Marines as they dug in for the night with grenades and mortar fire. As manager of this memorial you can add or update the memorial using the Edit button below. Undeterred, Basilone used his bare hands to remove the barrel of his machine gun and take out an entire wave of Japanese soldiers during the height of the battle even thoughhe burned his hands and arms in the process. His arrival was highly publicized, and his hometown held a parade in his honor when he returned. 1 Home Entertainment Tech Resource. Please reset your password. 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. That was at times dangerous. The Basilones lived on one side of the house while a Bengivenga family lived on the other side. The heart broken widow bride - History of Sorts This account has been disabled. He was the only Marine to be awarded both The Medal Of Honor and The Navy Cross during World War II. The Basilone home stood at 113 First Avenue where the Shell station is today. The official account of Basilone's heroism at Iwo Jima states the firstMarines landed on the beaches on February 19, 1945, with the Japanese concentrating their fire at the incoming Marines from heavily fortified positions. Back then most soda consumption was not in the house, but at shops. Son of Salvatore Basilone and Dora Basilone Husband of Mary Elizabeth Basilone Brother of GySgt. Since the men of Graves Registration had to examine the body and take the dog tags and keep records and bury the body, their account is definitive. A British native, Charles also is an avid football fan, podcast co-creator, and Brand Strategy & Content Manager for Text Inspector who loves delivering new content en-masse across various forms of media. Your Scrapbook is currently empty. Try again later. Whatever happened to house that the Basilone family lived in ? Please contact Find a Grave at [emailprotected] if you need help resetting your password. Created: 03 Sep 2008. Lena M. Basilone died June 11, 1999, at the age of 86 and was buried at Riverside National Cemetery. John still had four NCOs behind him as he approached the end of the runway. In Johns day kids played outside unsupervised. Surviving are a son, John and wife Reenie of Raritan; a daughter, Carolyn Basilone Barrow and husband Maxwell of Tewksbury; a brother, Donald and wife Jean of Florida; four grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. Coming Up On TV - December 08 / Jan 09 Christmas Special. 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. for service as set forth in the following CITATION: For extraordinary heroism and conspicuous gallantry in action against enemy Japanese forces, above and beyond the call of duty, while serving with the 1st Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division in the Lunga Area, Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, on 24 and 25 October 1942. He has received many honors including being the namesake for streets, military locations and a United States Navy destroyer. You are only allowed to leave one flower per day for any given memorial. 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. Their favorite spot in the river was two blocks west of where the Basilone Statue is today. Resend Activation Email. (reprinted by the John Basilone Stamp Campaign), John Basilone meets the Mayor of New York, List of historically notable United States Marines, List of Medal of Honor recipients for World War II, "Annual John Basilone Parade stirs feelings of patriotism, Jersey pride", "Four Distinguished Marines Saluted on U.S. Postage Stamps", United States Army Center of Military History, "Resort Style Senior Living | California Lutheran Homes | Carlsbad by the Sea", "The Story of Gunnery Sergeant John Basilone Part 3", "Burial Detail: Basilone, John (Section 12, Grave 384) Birth Date: 11/04/1916; Death Date: 02/19/1945; Interment Date: 04/20/1948", "Raritan Public Library "Basilone Room"Gy/Sgt John Basilone ribbons", "SCR 25 Gunnery Sergeant John Basilone Memorial Freeway", "company-c-fights-up-hill-battle-basilones-challenge", "Honoring One Marine To Remember Them All: WWII Hero Gets Plaque at Navy Memorial", "Raritan to honor its fallen son with 33rd Annual John Basilone Memorial Parade", "Raritan's World War II hero John Basilone inducted into NJ Hall of Fame", "JOHN BASILONE Historical Raritan (19161945)", Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, "John Basilone's Medal of Honor Ceremony remembered by Marine Sidney Phillips", United States Marine Corps History Division Gunnery Sergeant John Basilone Biography, Medal of Honor Recipients Depicted in Film, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=John_Basilone&oldid=1147215474, An entry point onto Camp Pendleton from US, US Interstate 5 from the San Diego County line to Camp Pendleton to the south is called "Gunnery Sergeant John Basilone Memorial Highway", In 1944, Army Barracks from Washington state were moved to a site in front of. Parents Salvatore and Theadora Basilone had 10 children, Donald being the youngest. On July 3, 1944, he reenlisted in the Marine Corps. 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 and, using grenades and detonation devices, single-handedly destroyed the entire Japanese strong point and its defending garrison. Consistently daring and aggressive as he fought his way over the battle-torn beach and up the sloping, gun-studded terraces toward Airfield Number 1, he repeatedly exposed himself to the blasting fury of exploding shells and later in the day coolly proceeded to the aid of a friendly tank which had been trapped in an enemy mine field under intense mortar and artillery barrages, skillfully guiding the heavy vehicle over the hazardous terrain to safety, despite the overwhelming volume of hostile fire. We will review the memorials and decide if they should be merged. He enlisted in the Marine Corps on June 3, 1940, after serving three years in the United States Army with duty in the Philippines. His wife would never remarry and died at the age of 86 in 1999. A little later, with ammunition critically low and the supply lines cut off, Sgt. Which memorial do you think is a duplicate of Carlo Basilone (70651098)? Angelo Basilone (1910 - 2002) - Genealogy John Basilone, Medal of Honor. The official account of Basilone's heroism at Iwo Jima states the first Marines landed on the beaches on February 19, 1945, with . These severe burns do little to soften Basilone's impact on the clash for Guadalcanal, with Ceda's Basilone shown repelling waves of Japanese soldiers. Basilone commanded two sections of machine guns which fought for the next two days until only Basilone and two other Marines were left standing. He was in a good emplacement, and causing the Japanese lots of trouble, not only firing his machine gun, but also using his pistol."[8]. That home was at the North-West corner of what is now Route 202 (and First Ave.) where the Shell Station is today. Basilone was born in his home on November 4, 1916 in Buffalo, New York, the sixth of 10 children. The family soon came back to Raritan and in a few years moved in at 113 First Avenue. 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. As he ran, Basilone killed several Japanese soldiers with his Colt .45 pistol. His reluctance to become a national icon in The Pacific also mirrors real life, with Basilone increasingly feeling out of his element and keen to re-enlist. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/70651098/carlo-edward-basilone. The Italian Bakery is there today. Edit a memorial you manage or suggest changes to the memorial manager. Letter from George Basilone (John's brother) to Lena Basilone from Iwo Jima, March 8, 1945 _____ Letter from George Basilone (John's brother) to Lena Basilone In this field they played a variety of sports including baseball and football. John went to that school until 8th grade when he graduated.