John Basilone - A Hero Remembered

Gunny Sgt John Basilone wearing the Medal of Honor he earned on Guadalcanal

I am currently reading an eBook titled I’m Staying with My Boys – The Heroic Life of Sgt. John Basilone, USMC.  I’m not quite finished with this remarkable true story but I concluded that today, February 19, 2013 is the day I should write a blog about John Basilone.  This is the 68th anniversary of the day he gave his life in service to our country.

 

A high school dropout, Mr. Basilone found his true calling when he joined the military.  He first joined the Army, where he served from 1936-1939.  After serving his hitch and trying his hand as a deliveryman and, later, working for a utility company, he decided his true calling was in the military.  In 1940, John Basilone joined the Marines.  He sensed a war was coming and he felt the USMC offered him the best opportunity to get in on the action.  They didn’t let him down.

 

 

On October 24, 1942, Gunny Sgt Basilone and the 12 men in his squad found themselves front and center as a Japanese regiment of 3000 men tried to retake Henderson airfield on the Pacific island of Guadalcanal.  John’s actions that day were described as follows:

 

“While the enemy was hammering at the Marines defensive positions, Sgt. Basilone, in charge of 2 sections of heavy machine guns, fought valiantly to check the savage and determined assault.  In a fierce frontal attack with the Japanese blasting his guns with grenades and mortar fire, one of Sgt. Basilone’s sections, with its gun crews, was put out of action, leaving only 2 men able to carry on.  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.  A little later, with ammunition critically low and the supply lines cut off, Sgt. Basilone, at great risk of his life and in the face of continued enemy attack, battled his way through hostile lines with urgently needed shells for his gunners, thereby contributing in large measure to the virtual annihilation of a Japanese regiment.” 

 

 

According to his own count, Sgt. Basilone and his men fired 26,000 rounds at the Japanese.  He was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions on Guadalcanal.

 

 

He was later shipped back to the States where toured with other war heroes promoting war bonds.  He hated it and asked to be sent back to the action.  Though his request was denied,  he didn’t give up.  He turned down a cushy assignment as an instructor and a commission as an officer before his request was finally granted to return to action in the Pacific theater.

 

 

On February 19, 1945, Sgt. Basilone stormed the beach on Iwo Jima with his Marine brothers.  Over 22,000 well-entrenched Japanese soldiers were there to greet them.  For his action that day, Sgt Basilone was awarded the Navy Cross.  Posthumously.  His citation read, in part:

 

 

For extraordinary heroism . . . in action against enemy Japanese forces on Iwo Jima . . .  shortly after landing when his company’s advance was held up by the concentrated fire of a heavily fortified Japanese blockhouse . . . (Sgt. Basilone) boldly defied the smashing bombardment to a position directly on top of the blockhouse and then, attacking with grenades and demolitions, single-handedly destroyed the entire hostile strong point . . . he then fought his way over the battle-torn beach . . . he repeatedly exposed himself to the blasting fury of exploding shells and  . . .  proceeded to aid 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.  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.    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 . . . He gallantly gave his life in the service of his country.”

 

 

6,821 U.S. soldiers died and 19,217 were wounded on Iwo Jima before the iconic picture of the US flag being raised in victory atop Mount Suribachi was taken.  Of the 22,060 Japanese soldiers on the island, 21,844 died and 216 were taken prisoner.  The battle for Iwo Jima lasted from February 19, the day Sgt Basilone gave up his life, to March 26, 1945. 

 

 

Thank you, John Basilone, and thank you to all the men and women of the U.S. military, past and present.

 

Sgt Basilone's headstone at

Arlington National Cemetery

 

The ebook I'm Staying with My Boys, by Jim Proser with Jerry Cutter, is available from Barnes and Noble as an eBook through Nook.  I highly recommend it.