GOD bless you, and thank you for evidently just being you. Thank God she had someone. They were only married 7 months when John fell in battle within 2-4 hours of hitting the beach. 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. We both turned down comissions to be officers many times in spite of field commanders and general recommendations. offspring chris havel wife; airigh 'n eilean; ontario bar exam results 2020. project zomboid ham radio frequencies; gunton hall rooms; kauai hotels kama'aina rate 2021; mary katherine backstrom net worth 2020; blackstone managing director salary. The only thing I really knew about Basilone was the road that cuts through Camp Pendleton. The Lena I knew would rather be buried where she was because she didnt seek the limelight and wanted to live a quiet life. I know through history lessons and though reading many books that John Basilone had done exactly what I would have done if given the chance. "They weren't even men anymore. 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. [22], Gunnery Sergeant Basilone's military awards include:[23]. The Democrat did not seek re-election for . He gallantly gave his life in the service of his country. the bridge stood for 10 days and collapsed? While stationed at Camp Pendleton, he met his future wife, Lena Mae Riggi, who was a Sergeant in the Marine Corps Women's Reserve. I think it is what spooked him from combat. 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. A little later, with ammunition critically low and the supply lines cut off, Sgt. He was one of only three Marines in that group to survive. The parade made national news in Life magazine and Fox Movietone News. He was deployed to Guantnamo Bay, Cuba, and in August 1942, he took part in the invasion of Guadalcanal. Regardless of Service Branch, we all, will forever belong to a Band of Brothers and Sisters that only we can understand. When he requested again to return to the war, the request was approved. The U.S. Navy named a destroyer after him in 1945, which Lena Mae christened. Lena always had her wallet full of Johnnys pictures. She was a patriotic American to the core!! I served until 2007 and retired.I was both an aviation medic and ground medic. They had been married for 7.3 months. If any of you served with or knew Lena please let me know. He was the only enlisted Marine to receive both of these decorations in World War II. 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. She was stationed at Camp Pendleton where she served as a field cook on the base attaining the rank of Sergeant. Lena Basilone, plus every picture I could find of her in her uniform showing her Sgt. Whether Geneva convention rules exist or not, you use weapons or do what it take to win.. SSG RickDoc Borenstein US Army (Ret). Basilone grew up in the nearby Raritan Town (now Borough of Raritan) where he attended St. Bernard Parochial School. 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. During brutal fighting with heavy casualties on both sides, he killed at least 38 Japanese soldiers. John Basilone (November 4, 1916 February 19, 1945) was a United States Marine Corps gunnery sergeant who was killed in action during World War II. I too believe that a great degree of focus should have been given to Lena. 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. It has the picture of him like the statue they made of him in his hometown. 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. John Basilone, who had already served three years in the Phillippines with the U.S. Army when he joined the Marines in 1940 as a machine gunner with C Company, 1st Battalion, 1st Marine . John Basilone's passing at the age of 66 on Sunday, February 5, 2023 has been publicly announced by Bradley and Stow Funeral Home in Medford, NJ. I knew Lean briefly due to my dealings with the VA in Long Beach. She is my hero. A piece of their son to cling to , to assuage their pain . I knew Lena briefly because I had to have an urgent medical problem taken care of at the VA and she helped me cut much of the red tape. If I myself was able to sacrifice myself to save even 2 people I had never met, believe me, I would do that. I suspect she feared if she was buried next to John, that might have dredged up old wounds with the family. My father was a medic and water purification specialist. You truley were a good friend to her. I miss Lena even it was a brief time I knew her .Regards,SSG Rick Doc Borenstein Ret, Hi Barbara, After seeing pacific and reading about John Basilone i have so much admiration for the both of them. End note 456 reads: This is what I remember about Lena. Born in Buffalo, New York, on 4 November 1916, he went to St. Bernard Parochial School in Raritan and enlisted in the Army at the age of 18. So now Im just stoked and really want to learn more and perhaps write a book about her. They will forever belong to a Band of Brothers and Sisters who willingly served this Country when she called. The price of freedom is not cheap. May they rest in peace. I have been trying to find you. WowI just started reading Im Staying With My Boys, the book about her husband. If so where can I find it. In a fierce frontal attack with the Japanese blasting his guns with grenades and mortar fire, one of Sgt. I agree, Lena was a loyal wife to a great Marine! "Sgt. I hope we can share information! Chuck Tatum who survived Iwo Jima. She was the wife of John Basilone, one of the famous Marines every Marine Corps recruit learns about at boot camp. 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. One of her few, if not only, public appearances after Johns death was about nine months after he died. Thank you for your service as well as everyone who serves. I think women can be and in many cases are better tank and infantry officers, as I have had aunts and grandmothers who were commanders in Israels Palmach.and later the Army.we now will have women NCOs too in positions of leadership they have rightly deserved. 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 . [21] His widow, Lena M. Basilone, died on June 11, 1999, aged 86, and is buried at Riverside National Cemetery in Riverside, California. She worked for the electric company and volunteered countless hours of her time at the Womens Marine Association, the American Veterans Auxiliary, and the Long Beach Veterans Hospital. And finally, while home on leave, Basilone predicts his own death on Iwo Jima. He went to recruit training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, followed by training at Marine Corps Base Quantico and New River. "If the Japanese force got through Basilone . I have learned that Lena was a strong willed woman which made her what she was. I deserved it. I can also say to you that those who do - seem to need some sort of verification for their time in country. I wished he didnt go back to war but he was truly a hero and great marine. Semper Fi Doc(Yes,like my dad Im a medic too), Does anyone know what was behind her comment related to possible burial for herself at Arlington National Cemetery I do not want to be a bother to anyone ? Just watched the TV series The Pacific here in Cape Town, South Africa, during lockdown. 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. There are few like them. Aside from numerous decorations, Basilone received other honors for his bravery. The number 456 references one of hundreds of end notes in the back of the book. Their sacrifice was NOT in vain. She was every bit a Marine which I would follow anywhere. 456 John Basilone died a painful death in the dirt near Motoyama Airfield Number One. Shrewdly gauging the tactical situation shortly after landing when his company's advance was held up by the concentrated fire of a heavily fortified Japanese blockhouse, Gunnery Sergeant BASILONE boldly defied the smashing bombardment of heavy caliber fire to work his way around the flank and up to a position directly on top of the blockhouse and then, attacking with grenades and demolitions, single handedly destroyed the entire hostile strong point and its defending garrison. Regards Doc I Was A combat medic like my father, Thank You for thinking of Lena Basilone.She did a lot as was mentioned in my previous comments.She helped a lot of our veterans get access to services they needed. 75 years after, my heart had broke. 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. . I have never regret a moment of my 34 yrs of service. Shirt sleeves rolled up and of course the regulation short hair in hairnets!! United States Government. His relatives basked in his reflected glory due to his MOH and widely reported heroism. Basilone, [] What I have learned about John Basilone has been influential on how I did my job as an NCO. He became a doctor and served his community well. On one occasion I drove Lena to Camp Pendleton for a celebration of the Womens Marine Corp. 60th anniversary, (I think it was 60) It was so great seeing how she was honored and revered by the young lady Marines. The young people in our church adored her even though she was tough with them. Basilone is interred in Arlington National Cemetery, in Section 12, Grave 384, grid Y/Z 23.5. Ssg Rick Doc Borenstein (Ret) Combat Medic.As we come to remember our fallen comrades which includes Johe Basilone Jr. Vera.and Msg Lena Basilone, I take pride in theilives and their leadership as USMC NCOs.

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