Officially he had been killed by mortar fragments, but later analysis indicated he may have been struck with machine gun bullets. However, he was killed while he and three other members of his platoons were moving along the edge of the airfield and a mortar shrapnel hit them. The US wanted to control the strategically important island and its airbase so as to eliminate the Japanese air attacks in the area and facilitate the ultimate capture of the Japanese mainland. This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. 1. During a heavy enemy attack in Guadalcanal, Basilone and his men defeated thousands of Japanese troops while he single-handedly repaired and manned multiple machine guns and risked his life running through enemy lines to retrieve critical ammunition. An editorial in the New York Times singled out Basilone by name for his bravery, and remarked that there had always been Americans like him who were willing to fight for America, despite knowing that their luck would not last. Said Marine Pfc. At Guadalcanal in October of 1942, Basilone was nearly 26 years old and had his Army time and a couple of years in the Marines, making him one of the more seasoned NCOs. Continue with Recommended Cookies. There was an error deleting this problem. Yet he chose to return to battle. It killed them all.. He trained at Quantico, Virginia, Parris Island, South Carolina, and New River, North Carolinawhich later became Camp Lejeune. Either way, the great American hero was dead, one of over 6800 Americans that died in the battle for the little island. In any event, on February 19, 1945, Basilone waded ashore with his platoon on Red Beach II, located on the southern tip of the island near Mt. John Basilone quickly became a celebrity and was recognized everywhere he went. John stood up to run. There was a problem getting your location. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases via links in the Historical Evidence sections of articles. One said Basilones legs were blown off by a mine. In 21 Dec 1945 Lena christened a Navy destroyer ship named the USS Basilone in her husband's honor. To do this hed have to recross the steep volcanic beach where many Marines were still pinned down by the enemys relentless shelling and well-camouflaged pillboxes. But, while Basilone understood the admiration, and realized that his efforts had raised more than a million dollars for the war, he was uncomfortable with life on the Home Front and wanted to return to the Marine Corpsand the war in the Pacific. Instead, she is interred at Riverside National Cemetery, Plot 50 0 5557 in Riverside, California. A system error has occurred. He was 27 years old. On August 7, 1942, American, Australian, and New Zealand forces landed on Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands. He quickly tired of the life in the limelight and requested to return to front line duty. The Navy on Saturday christened the second destroyer to be named after Marine Corps World War II hero John Basilone. Leave a sympathy message to the family on the memorial page of John R Basilone to pay them a last tribute.

Taurus Moon Man And Taurus Moon Woman, Comul Bush Definition, Why Isn't Graham Bell On Ski Sunday, Stevenage Swimming Pool Membership, Articles J