He was killed on February 19, 1945 in an exchange of heavy gunfire on Iwo Jima. Sgt Lena Mae Riggi Basilone (1913-1999) - Find a Shirt sleeves rolled up and of course the regulation short hair in hairnets!! At that time women were not accepted in a mans world in the military at that time. These drones can remain airborne until a target is identified at which point they set a course for that target and go out in a blaze of glory. That kept me young at heart, As a medic, who has PTSD I gotta get out or let it all hang out. Regardless of whether Basilone's ability was real or imagined, what matters is that he believed it, making his request for orders to the fleet and his actions on Iwo Jima all the more astounding. Lena's obituary notes that she never remarried and was buried still wearing her wedding ring. I am a child of the Vietnam era and I was shaped by those soldiers who fought in Vietnam and adapted to them. Her group of women were heavily complimented and recognized by the marines they served for good chow. Lena passed away in 1999 at age 86 and is buried at Riverside National Cemetery at plot 50 grave 5557 with the epitaph "wife of Sgt John Basilone USMC". I think it will improve the militarys ability to fight. I loved the movie Pacific and i felt horrible when he died so young after they were married. Each time his visions came to pass - including the last - foretelling his death. I just have very much respect for both John and Lena for making the personal sacrifice, and for John making the ultimate sacrifice. John Basilone - Alchetron, The Free Social Encyclopedia Again, Lena Basilone was in a league of her own and very much ahead of her time. She responded that she had served as a Marine in the early 70s. Thank you, to the Sergeants Basilone for their service, and may God have united you again in heaven. Lena was ahead of her time as were many women Marines. They were married on July 7, 1944 and spent some time together before John returned to the South Pacific. January. Aside from numerous decorations, Basilone received other honors. Keep up the good work Women Marines Association! And she cut it with flair! God Bless, her and her husband!!!! John Basilone Annihilates a Japanese Regiment in Guadalcanal The Pacific War was one of the most savage wars ever fought. "The Pacific" Basilone (TV Episode 2010) - IMDb Thank you both for your service to the greatest nation in the world. Thank You David. NOTHING would have been too much trouble for me, but I honored her wishes to have her buried in the National Cemetary in Riverside, Ca. I have learned that Lena was a strong willed woman which made her what she was. I am amazed that many men did come out psychologically scarred, having no treatment.but still got their live together to function and cope To me Lenas generation was a very strong one. The USS Basilone, was decommissioned in 1977. They definitely did not wear cute little feminine skirted waitress type uniforms. They were married on July 7, 1944 and spent some time together before John returned to the South Pacific. Military units comprising the Defense CBRN Response Force (DCRF) participated in Exercis []. John Basilone - Wikipedia We spent many, many hours together and even though her Johnny had been killed many years before she had a way of talking about him that made me feel I knew him personally. My father and I did our jobs as we were expected to by our comrades and as we expected to. I am eternal grateful for that help. Sgt Lena sounds like a very strong and amazing woman. (Thats my VietNam). . I am glad that someone was able to be with Lena. You got tired both physically and mentally quickly. John Basilone (November 4, 1916 - February 19, 1945) was a United States Marine Corps Gunnery Sergeant who received the Medal of Honor for actions during the Battle for Henderson Field in the Guadalcanal campaign, and the Navy Cross posthumously for extraordinary heroism during the Battle of Iwo Jima. Thats a hard thing to take, but she took it and carried on. He is often discussed in Marine Corps history classes but no one ever mentions that his wife was a Marine too. . They finally agreed to wife of Sgt.John Basilone. He enlisted in the Marine Corps on June 3, 1940, after serving three years in the United States Army with duty in the Philippines. Giving Johns Medal of Honor to his Mom and Dad was a selfless and gracious gift . Her spirit still lives on.. I agree with you, for theres more to the story then meets the eye. She did many things that were bigger than herself.including returning Johns medal of honor to his family, well as his insurance.Lena was in charge of her life as well as her marines she served with.To me and other she is a legend in a league of her own and many women Marines I have know are the same way.Lena was definetly her own person, if that helps you understand her. I did some time on Dustoff and later did almost 5 years total. 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. What a debt we owe to that generation. Although he appreciated the admiration, he felt out of place and requested to return to the operating forces fighting the war. She purchased a home in Lakewood, California and lived there for over 50 years until her death. He was killed on February 19, 1945 in an exchange of heavy gunfire on Iwo Jima. My generation followed their example and I think its why I survived 5 conflicts with mild to moderate PTSD. John met Lena at Pendleton,it took a while because Lena was her own woman and a noncomissioned officer whe eventually attained the rank of Master Sergeant, She did not rush to John immediately as you saw in the Pacific but once she did they were head over heels for each other.John was a no nonsense Gunnery Sergeant and was very good with a machine gun and thats what got him the Congressional Medal of Honor(equivalent to a Victoria Cross). His five older siblings were born in Raritan, New Jersey, before the family moved to Buffalo where John was born; they returned to Raritan in 1918. We do a ceremony every wednesday for Vets without Families WE look straight out on her grave Rest in Peace Lena Basilone. Lena received a telegram and went back to the beach, mourning him. She was also constantly on top of mess hall sanitation too, which hers was the best on Pendleton. May they unit in heaven & continue their love story forever, Its the women our lives that makes coming home worth it. I especially loved the story about Manila John and Sgt Lena! I wish i could have known her. Lena lost her husband within A few short months after their wedding . To apply for a WMA Emergency Grant, you must complete the online application form and provide documentation of your financial emergency. 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. She is truely my hero as well as her husband. Im writing a piece on Lena Basilone, I am a Marine and have been looking to speak with people that could share stories about Lena, and her life of love, friendship and her service to veterans after the Marine Corps. I am a huge fan of hers and her husband. [13], While stationed at Camp Pendleton, Basilone met his future wife, Lena Mae Riggi, who was a sergeant in the Marine Corps Women's Reserve. You were lucky to get to know her, even a little! Again it was my privilege to be with Lena during the sad days of her battles with congestive heart failure, the many calls for paramedics, the many trips to the ER. 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 am so proud to be from a military family. The young people in our church adored her even though she was tough with them. Hope you were able to get the Pacific series. I needed urgent medical care at a VA medical center.Lena help cut much of the red tape get me in for care that very day.I have never forgotten what she did. Lena M. Basilone died June 11, 1999, at the age of 86, and was buried at Riverside National Cemetery in Riverside, California . For his heroism there, he was awarded the Navy. Basilone received numerous honors, including the following: John Basilone receiving the Medal of Honor in 1943. Widowed Unfortunately, Basilone was killed in action on Iwo Jima. I have my lense of combat by which I can see why the Pacific descended into the cauldron of hell that it was, both sides fought brutally with equal gusto. I am glad that someone stepped in to be family for her. I pray for all of them. 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 . As she moved into her 80s, health issues began to crop up. His widow, Lena M. Basilone, died June 11, 1999, aged 86, and is buried at Riverside National Cemetery in Riverside, California. From what I have learned about her from you and others Lena was a very independent woman. John Basilone MoH. John Basilone killed at Iwo Jima - by Marc Lancaster - Substack I have had my father, uncles, and even grandfathers who fought in WW II and have had find out what it was like because vets find it easier to talk to other vets. I could not serve in the USMC which was one of my ambitions, family members were in units I wanted to join, I settled for the Army and do not regret any of my service of 33 1/2.yrs.My dad was in the Pacific with the Marines including the Guam and Peleliu campaigns. What would make someone cut the connection so completely, yet state that she had the best?, Miss she had the man he was worth more than any material thing she had and her memory of him was enough for her. John Basilone (1916 - 1945) - Genealogy - geni family tree Virginia Grey Hollywood Starlet & Pin Up - WW2 DOG TAGS He enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1940, in Baltimore, Maryland. Why John Basilone Might Be The Toughest Soldier Of World War II The Democrat did not seek re-election for . I love reading everything about ww2 and the greatest generation. Eternal be his memory . His love for her was her memorial. Pacific Wrecks - The Pacific Episode 8 - Historical Commentary on The i am a proud American. I guess we all have our way to remember those important to us. Basilone fought. We both felt there was bigger job to medics. the Germans set the charges of explosives off but they failed. For extraordinary heroism and conspicuous gallantry in action against enemy Japanese forces, above and beyond the call of duty, while serving with the 1st Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division in the Lunga Area. They both left with honorable discharges and they were both Sargents. I had to settle for the Army. I finally got to see the Pacificand I was just blown away! 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. Death and burial ground of Basilone, John, "Manila John". Basilone's parents met at a church gathering and married three years later. Lena Basilone was a very independent and rugged individual, who epitomized what the USMC is all about. My I lost an uncle who flew a B24. I have studied the war in the Pacific. DocBorenstein Lena loved her volunteer work at the VA Hospital in Long Beach. 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 . 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. to me it was a tough and frustrating war in many ways. So he couldnt have possibly made the best coffee she ever had. Still, its a good part of the story consider that may very well have been the reaction of some parents upon discovering their daughter was joining the Marine Corps. She remained married to her hero for the rest of her life . That was their mistake. I wish i was around then. The parade made national news in Life magazine and Fox Movietone News. I caught the tail end of it when we had to get our ADA missiles out of there. A little later, with ammunition critically low and the supply lines cut off, Sgt. Lena and John fall in love and were married on July 10, 1944. Consistently daring and aggressive as he fought his way over the battle-torn beach and up the sloping, gun-studded terraces toward Airfield Number 1, he repeatedly exposed himself to the blasting fury of exploding shells and later in the day coolly proceeded to the aid of 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. I met her sometime in 1986 when she visited our church and we became instant friends. Basilone was posthumously awarded the Marine Corps' second-highest decoration for valor, the Navy Cross, for extraordinary heroism during the battle of Iwo Jima. 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. Outmanned and with supplies low, Basilone and other marines on Guadacanal rally to repel superior Japanese forces. The saddest days of my life were seeing Lenas normally fighting spirit wane after her surgery. Their sacrifice was NOT in vain. Lena never remarried and she lived in California until her death in 1999. 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. My uncles Dwight, Gil and Corky fought on Iwo. We also appreciated the material contributions you made to the war effort.As medics, my father and I kept many people alive when injured but we also kept them up mentally and maintained their health. Both her and her husband had each other and that was enough. Virginia Grey Entertainment - Actress Why Famous: Hullabaloo, film Age: 87 (3/22/1917 - 7/31/2004) Virginia Grey's Relationships (3) John Basilone Other - Other Why Famous: Recipient of Medal of Honor for Battle of Guadalcanal To The Altamirano Family: Lena Basilone was a Marine who was in a league of her own.She along with another Medal Of Honor winners husband Terry Murphy the wife of Audie Murphy helped alot of veterans get what they needed from the Veterans Administration.To me the Basilones were both legendary heroes.My father and I were combat medics. She was never accepted by Johns family, as if she had taken him away from them. . John Basilone was not only a good machine gun platoon sergeant, He knew how to use machine guns,maintain them and teach others to do the same, like Steve Evenson who fell on Iwo Jima and his buddy Marine Corp veteran Korea Bongiovi Funeral Home, Raritan, NJ Courier News Sep. 7, 2022 Obituary of Donald Basilone Donald Basilone, 92, of Newport Richie, died August 13, 2022. I just had a question, was she close to his family after he passed? Virginia Grey - Biography - IMDb It was so my privilege to know Lena as my dear friend! She deserves it all! Johnny was definitely the love of her life! During her time there she met John Basilone, a Marine and the first United States decorated World War II hero. He became a doctor and served his community well. She remained active with the Women's Marine Association and died in June 1999 at 86 years of age. However, I was impressed by the story of Lena and John Basilone. GOD bless you, and thank you for evidently just being you. Chuck Tatum who survived Iwo Jima. John Basilone killed at Iwo Jima Marc Lancaster Feb 19, 2022 1 Among the approximately 300,000 Americans killed in action in World War II, John Basilone's death on Feb. 19, 1945 holds a unique place in the history of the conflict. I learned from others like uncles, friends and comrades. They got the part absolutely right about Lena totally ignoring Johnny when they first met. Are their any other books about him? John Basilone - Home of Heroes Lets just say Ive become officially obsessed with the story. Its why I have the attitudes I do. My father was on Peleiliu as a medic and thats what I think spooked him and he finished the war in Hawaii. I was with her as she drew her last labored breath in the ER after weeks of trying to recover from the surgery.
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