This Day in History: November 4, 1916

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On November 4, 1916, John Basilone was born to Salvatore and Dora Basilone in Buffalo, New York. Raised in Raritan, New York, John attended the St. Bernard Parochial School until he dropped out at the age of 15. Basilone went on to enlist in the US Army in 1934 and was deployed to the Philippines were his expertise as a boxer was discovered. After his enlistment was over, Basilone briefly worked as a truck driver before joining the US Marine Corps in 1940. Following his training, he was deployed first to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, before being sent to Guadalcanal. It was during the Battle for Henderson Field, part of the larger campaign over Guadalcanal, that Basilone became a legend in the Marine Corps. Commanding two machine gun sections, Basilone and his men defeated an attack by approximately 3,000 Japanese troops. Over the course of the fighting Basilone fought his way through hostile territory to retrieve more ammo for the guns, repaired and crew one the guns by his self, and continued fighting armed only with his sidearm after all ammunition for the machine guns had been expended. The battle concluded with the annihilation of practically the entire Japanese force. For his actions, John Basilone was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor, the highest military honor awarded by the United States of America.

Basilone would go on to participated in war bond tours and marry Sergeant Lena Mae Riggi of the Marine Corps Women's Reserve before returning to combat in the Battle of Iwo Jima. It was on Iwo Jima that Gunnery Sergeant John Basilone was killed by shrapnel while guiding a Marine Corps tank through a mine field, after he had single-handedly destroyed a Japanese strongpoint which had prevented the Marines from leaving the beachhead. Basilone was awarded the Navy Cross for his actions on Iwo Jima. He is interred in Arlington National Cemetery.

"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. Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, on 24 and 25 October 1942. While the enemy was hammering at the Marines' defensive positions, Sgt. Basilone, in charge of 2 sections of heavy machineguns, 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 guncrews, 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. His great personal valor and courageous initiative were in keeping with the highest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service."

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