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My dad was in the Peleliu campaign as part of the US Armys 81st Division who finished the campaign at Angaur, a neighboring island. Marine Sergeant Lena Basilone was the wife of Medal of Honor winner John Basilone. Gotta gp get em.,during a hail of gunfire.Later in other conflicts it was knowledge I definitely needed and used, as it save my life. My dad was in the Pacific on Guam, the Marshalls and Peleliu. That she and Gunnery Sgt. . On Camp Pendelton, there is an entry point to the base from Interstate 5 called "Basilone Road." His actions at Guadalcanal earned him the Medal of Honor. Just 26 years old, Manila John Basilone had entered the ranks of the Marine Corps pantheon of heroes -- and shortly America would take the big, handsome Marine with jug ears and a smile like a neon sign to their hearts. Maybe a bio or maybe a fictionalized with fact sort of book ala Alex Haileys Rootsbut we shall see what we shall see. On her 32nd birthday she receive word of Johns death on Iwo Jima.He was one of the many who laid their lives down for not only fellow Marines, but also for US Army airmen in crippled B29s who could not return to the Mariana Island base and would have had to face the perils of the Pacific. While the Marines landed, the Japanese concentrated their fire at the incoming Marines from heavily fortified blockhouses staged throughout the island. A very young, excited female Marine escorted her to the front of the room to cut the ceremonial cake! . The John Basilone Memorial Parade is the only parade in the country honoring a World War II hero. Barbara Garner was a genuine daughter and family member to her. The service teachs you to do things bigger than yourself. She was an incredible human being and an even better marine, but before posting an article make sure you watch the entire series there were 2 more episodes after your supposed conclusion. Many airmens lives were saved as a result because fighter escort was there too to shepard the bombers that went to Japan. At 7 p.m. Sept. 17, the Raritan Valley Symphonic Band will present the free 27th John Basilone Commemorative Concert at Raritan Valley Community College in Branchburg. If possible I would like to speak with you about setting up an introduction so that his niece can speak with you. The military's standard procedure is to notify the family before the media. I love reading everything about ww2 and the greatest generation. The Death of "Manila John" Basilone. John Basilone. Truly a wonderful woman of strong beliefs. Her parents were Italian immigrants. Thats a hard thing to take, but she took it and carried on. Lena was notified of his death on March 7, 1945 - her 32nd birthday. This is what I remember about Lena. Basilone was born in his Italian American parents' home on November 4, 1916, in Buffalo, New York. [14] They were married at St. Mary's Star of the Sea Church in Oceanside, California, on July 10, 1944, with a reception at the Carlsbad Hotel. Lena never forgot us and took care of us. he met his future wife, Lena Mae Riggi, who was a Sergeant in the Marine Corps Women's Reserve. During the fighting on Guadalcanal in October 1942, Basilone's actions would result in him being awarded the Medal of Honor. I have been trying to find you. He rarely talked about WW2 like a lot of other vets. They were married on July 7, 1944 and spent some time . She helped veterans thru the hospital maze at LA VA.Both Audie Murphy and John Basilone were soldiers who we will never see their likes again.Toghetje both these women gave immeasurable service to veterans and made sure we got what we needed.Lena served her Marine corps with distiinction and a pride which established the standard of what Marines needed to aspire to be. His arrival was highly publicized, and his hometown held a parade in his honor when he returned. In later life she served at the VA ;and everyone she came into contact with. Thanks, Dave. I was a medic in Desert Storm, Korea,Bosnia, and Iraq. The USS Basilone, a Gearing -class destroyer sponsored by Basilone's wife Lena, was laid down and launched in 1945 and commissioned in 1949. I ran into Mrs. Basilone @ the VA when I need help navigating the system, She was there for me. Their bomber was called Cabin In the sky. Wow! Basilone grew up in the nearby Raritan Town (now Borough of Raritan) where he attended St. Bernard Parochial School. [21] His widow, Lena M. Basilone, died on June 11, 1999, aged 86, and is buried at Riverside National Cemetery in Riverside, California. [9][10] As the battle went on, ammunition became critically low. Just three days after Lenas death a resolution was passed naming a 17 mile stretch of the San Diego (I-5) Freeway near Camp Pendleton Gunnery Sergeant John Basilone Memorial Highway. The war was shortend by what they did. 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. 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 21 February 2023, at 22:45. They were both technically saavy at their jobs and legendary leaders as NCOs.They are heros to me, as the members of my family who answered the call and still do to this day, my family in Israel. Military units comprising the Defense CBRN Response Force (DCRF) participated in Exercis []. They were dumb animals who wanted . The USS Basilone, was decommissioned in 1977. It has a cost, a soldiers life. A recent visit to the battle sites and the cemeteries in Europe was a moving experience and a grim reminder of sacrifices made for the freedom we enjoy! The Basilone Family and Raritan Learns of John's Death. My dad fought in the Peleliu campaign. However, in John's case, something got mixed up. [17][18][19], His actions helped Marines penetrate the Japanese defense and get off the landing beach during the critical early stages of the invasion. One of her few, if not only, public appearances after Johns death was about nine months after he died. Lena Basilone teachs me a lot even after she is gone from our presence. My cousins, and two uncles fought there and I learned quickly what Vietnam was about. I served for 34 years nearly and the others did service from 4-30 years.I definitely appreciate what family did in Vietnam. Basilone's Medal of Honor citation reads as follows: The President of the United States in the name of The Congress takes pride in presenting the MEDAL OF HONOR to. I did some time on Dustoff and later did almost 5 years total. Lena saw to it that I got the care I needed that day and helped me work through the system there. He was offered a commission, which he turned down, and was later offered an assignment as an instructor, but refused this as well. Its not a contest to receive one. I think their story is wonderful, and I am honoring our heritage as women in the Marines and her service to our nation by writing about the lost story of her life. Lena was the same kind of a Marine too. To me John was a legend whose legacy will not be matched for a long time. I served 33 1/2 years from the Vietnam Era to Iraq.. She was definitely an in charge Sergeant,but was well respected because she too could lead. If you call any of them a winner you are disgracing the recipients and those who died earning it. Death and burial ground of Basilone, John, "Manila John". Bullets hit him in the right groin, the neck, and just about blew off his left arm completely. Barbara; Thank you for this insight in to Lena Basilone. 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. And your efforts have been repaid many times over I am sure, by those who now know more about her. : My dad was the same way even though. "My heart is full of both sadness and joy today," Imbese said after the ceremony. Not long after their wedding he shipped out to Iwo Jima and in February of 1945 he was killed in battle. On February 19, 1945, the first day of the invasion of Iwo Jima, he was serving as a machine gun section leader on Red Beach II. 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. The Women Marines Association (WMA) Emergency Grants provide financial assistance to active duty or Veterans who are facing unexpected financial crises. I love my Vietnam compadres and family. She did have beautiful soft natural slightly curly hair, and she kept it short.. My generation followed their example and I think its why I survived 5 conflicts with mild to moderate PTSD. Hi Mike or Major Pain. Japan two hours of early warning of raids. I just saw this site today for the first time. . Thanks to a character in the recent television series called "The Pacific", the name of a female Marine has made an appearance on the pop culture radar: Lena Mae Riggi. Only 34 Japanese survived it. Lena helped many of us including me to get help from the VA.While I had briefly known her. Your right Marie. My daddy was killed in Germany at the battle at the Remagen Bridge in 1945. As she moved into her 80s, health issues began to crop up. , Brad Garrett Wife Height, Is A Mobile Home Considered Real Property In Florida, Animated Music Videos . [20], He was buried at Arlington National Cemetery, in Arlington, Virginia. I grew up learning all about both of them.The Marines were blessed to have these soldiers.This is why we are a free country by their mere presence and we lost fewer soldiers because of better medical. Please feel free to email me at Alison.bardeguez@usmc.mil. Lena would have been one mess sergeant I would never worry about because she ran a very efficient mess hall and really cared about the food and other things mess halls served. The Democrat did not seek re-election for . 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. My father and I did our jobs as we were expected to by our comrades and as we expected to. I hope we can share information! 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 ? Lena lost her husband within A few short months after their wedding . The only thing I really knew about Basilone was the road that cuts through Camp Pendleton. The gave us a lot and we appreciated their help in return as they helped us vets adjust. I am a huge fan of him and his wife. He is often discussed in Marine Corps history classes but no one ever mentions that his wife was a Marine too.