John Basilone

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John Basilone One-Man Army The success of the Allied assault on Guadalcanal hinged on the skills of the machine gunner, and there was none better than Gunnery Sergeant John Basilone. During the defense of the Marine airstrip in late October of 1942, Basilone was everywhere at once: manning a machine gun; repairing a weapon in the YEAR BORN/DIED dark while under fire; racing barefoot to the supply 1916-1945 dump to grab 132 pounds of ammunition and returning to distribute it to his comrades so they could fend WAR off the murderous assault; ordering the repositioning World War II of a machine gun and directing its fire; and roving back and forth to trouble spots, all the while shouting RANK/ORGANIZATION words of encouragement and inspiring his men with Gunnery Sergeant his courage and stamina. U.S. Marine Corps PLACE/DATE OF HEROIC ACT Within days after the battle, Basilone received the Lunga Area, Guadalcanal, Congressional Medal of Honor. After a hero’s welcome Solomon Islands home and a short stint as a spokesman for war bonds, October 24-26, 1942 Basilone returned to the front, remarking, “I’m staying with my boys.” He perished during the assault on Iwo COMPANY/DIVISION Jima, earning him the Navy Cross. 1st Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division Basilone is the only enlisted man in World War II to receive the nation’s two highest awards for valor. And WHEN/WHERE INDUCTED With a postage stamp released in his honor in 2005 July 11, 1940 and a 2010 HBO miniseries on the war in the Pacific Baltimore, Maryland featuring him prominently, it is clear his bravery CITY OF BIRTH resonates even today. Buffalo, New York 8 HONOR ROLL.

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