Correction here: No such thing as a MOH winner. 2023.03.03 20:19 bolavitaslots BolavitaSlot Daftar Situs Slots Deposit Bank Lampung No.1 Indonesia John Basilone (1916 - 1945) - Genealogy - geni family tree Lena Basilone teachs me a lot even after she is gone from our presence. I was so happy for them both when they got married. He was one of only three Marines in that group to survive. By Jeff McDonald. 7 Surprising Facts About the HBO Miniseries The Pacific - warhistoryonline Women recently won an important victory, they now can be combat arms officers. [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. During her time there she met John Basilone, a Marine and the first United States decorated World War II hero. I didnt write for periods up to 1 month. DDG-122 USS John Basilone Arleigh Burke class destroyer Navy - Seaforces I will also remember Audie L. Murphys wife Terrry along with Lena who helped us wounded vets navigate through the VA system and get the help we needed. 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 . He was shot down over the Isle de Olerun in southern france,on thwway to plaster German airfields 3 months before Normandy, he fell on 3-27-44. During Virginia's participation in WWII bond drives, she developed a close relationship with John Basilone, . Virginia Grey (March 22, 1917 - July 31, 2004) was an American actress who appeared in over 100 films and a number of radio and television shows from the 1930s to the early 1980s. 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. You were lucky to get to know her, even a little! Another USS John Basilone is scheduled for commission in 2019. It also is sad that Lena had a short time with John. She had her memories of John Basilone. They definitely did not wear cute little feminine skirted waitress type uniforms. The video explains why the rifle is such an efficient, and ultimately dangerous, weapon. I then years later caught the Gulf war, Korea, Bosnia and Iraq. "Lena was notified of Johnny's death on March 7, 1945. Peleliu,Iwo Jima,Guadalcanal,New Britian,and Okinawa were among the toughest campaigns in tough conditions to fight.We had tough during VietNam with equal intensity.I marvel at these heroes, who adapted and overcame very tenacious and determined to die foes.This miniseries told it like it was. G-d keep us always in palm of your hand and love us always. I can also say to you that those who do - seem to need some sort of verification for their time in country. Basilone received numerous honors, including the following: John Basilone receiving the Medal of Honor in 1943. He gallantly gave his life in the service of his country. God bless! The USS Basilone, a Gearing -class destroyer sponsored by Basilone's wife Lena, was laid down and launched in 1945 and commissioned in 1949. 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. Great Love Happens Once: The Enduring Story of John and Lena Basilone 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. Basilone moved an extra gun into position and maintained continual fire against the incoming Japanese forces. Lena was the pioneer and was a very strong Non commissioned officer and ran a very good mess hall. . It was my joy and privilege to be able to stay with her often in her home, to drive her for outings, groceries, shopping, doctor appointments or out to lunch or supper. She purchased a home in Lakewood, California and lived there for over 50 years until her death. This N.J town has a sister in Italy, thanks to a WWII hero This is an extraordinary piece of History. John was a legend as was Lena.Beleive you me Lena is at peace. Their bomber was called Cabin In the sky. She made an effort to reconcile with them after the war when she visited and presented to the family Johns Medal of Honor. I have seen what they went through and it mirrors my own combat experiences,5 deployments worth.since 1991 to 2007.Lena Basilone and John were my heros and did their jobs to what they knew was their best. Many airmens lives were saved as a result because fighter escort was there too to shepard the bombers that went to Japan. After his death, he was buried in Arlington National Cemetery. Hi Paul: I was a young kid when Vietnam went down. The Marine Corps denied his request and told him he was needed more on the home front. He then fought his way toward Airfield Number 1 and aided a Marine tank that was trapped in an enemy mine field under intense mortar and artillery barrages. Lena saw to it that I got the care I needed that day and helped me work through the system there. It the untold storys you eventually get to hear that you never forget Im so glad that this was shared, Marie: Lena was the pioneer for what the post WWII Marine corps would be today.Women are playing a vital role in what occurs in the modern USMC today. 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. strips, they finally agreed to put Sgt.on her grave marker. Hi Vera: I am pleased to read your post. Sgt. John R Basilone Obituary (1956 - 2023) | Pemberton, New Jersey - Echovita And finally, while home on leave, Basilone predicts his own death on Iwo Jima. Some familys recognized that the problem existed after the war and helped them. I just had a question, was she close to his family after he passed? God love the brothers from Nam and I never stop thinking about you guys. You may see an updated blog entry from me here in the coming day sharing what Ive discovered , Thank You Sabrina: I am glad to learn about these facts. Lena as a dear and precious friend of mine. I did some time on Dustoff and later did almost 5 years total. Sgt Lena Mae (Riggi) Basilone - Women Marines Association Hi, your very lucky to have known Lena Basilone. I was a medic to engineers when I was in the National Guards and Engineers are over overbearing about safety. I am very moved and I thank all the American soldiers who fought the cruel war in the Pacific and here in our Europe. The Life and Death of . I kind of figured Lenas headsone would not be in the location it was supposed to be. BASILONE, in charge of 2 sections of heavy machine guns, fought valiantly to check the savage and determined assault. , Lena was a hero to me and so was John. BASILONE'S sections, with its gun crews, was put out of action, leaving only 2 men able to carry on. It has the picture of him like the statue they made of him in his hometown. As he moved along the edge of the airfield, he was killed by Japanese mortar shrapnel (based on his research for the book and miniseries The Pacific, author Hugh Ambrose suggested that Basilone was killed by a burst of small arms fire which hit him in the right groin and neck and nearly took off his left arm). Sergeant John Basilone - MarineParents.com (Thats my VietNam). The Japanese charged the hill relentlessly, with dead Japanese soldiers serving as human bridges so that their remaining comrades could cross over the barbed wire fences near the American perimeter. Basilone, [] We both turned down comissions to be officers many times in spite of field commanders and general recommendations. He spoke very little about it. They were only married 7 months when John fell in battle within 2-4 hours of hitting the beach. 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. Annie Parisse - Wikipedia Lena was ahead of her time as were many women Marines. We, as a nation, have been blessed to have such people serving to defend us. David: World War II in the Pacific was a war I hope humankind doesnt engage n again for a while. 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 . The Marines sent him to Guantnamo Bay for his next assignment and then to Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands as a member of "D" Company, 1st Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division.[8]. 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. 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. Remembering the ultimate Marine, John Basilone, on Memorial Day It wasnt until The Pacific miniseries came out that we realized Lena lived in Riverside and had we known we could have contacted her. Why was no other keel ever laid down in his honor? us army combat medic i, FORT HOOD, Texas (Dec.11, 2022) Members of the search fire and rescue team, assigned to the Marine Corps Chemical, Biological Incident Response Force, saws through concrete while conducting a rescue during Exercise Sudden Response 23 at Fort Hood, Texas Dec. 11, 2022. It is something the infantry appreciates or as grunts.Barbara Garner knew her best.My father and a lot of my uncles served in the Pacific as pilots, medics ,and grunts, one was a coxswain on the LCVPs or Higgins boats.. The Marines and Army suffered over 10000 casualities.. [2] He was the sixth of ten children. 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 Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, on 24 and 25 October 1942. It is the blood of John and those who served that binds the mortar of the foundation of the greatest nation ever! 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. May 26, 2016 4:29 PM PT. They will forever belong to a Band of Brothers and Sisters who willingly served this Country when she called. Within hours of landing on Iwo Jima, where he forcibly got his men up and off the beach, Basilone was killed by an enemy mortar round at age 27. John Basilone whom she was aware of. VERY fascinating story about both Gy Basilone and Sgt Lena. I guess being a diabetic with a full ankle replacement i would just be more of a problem for the military rather than a help. I never get tired of watching Pacific.My dad was in the Navy 22 yrs, served in the Pacific,in all the island hopping campaigns. I warmly greet. I am so proud to be from a military family. I have learned about what my dad and other Marines did through other Marines and Soldiers.who served with him. John Basilone, a recipient of the . John Basilone Memorial Parade in Raritan NJ returns Sept. 18 John Basilone's Grave. But only small details.for instance, at that time all lady marines that worked in the kitchen wore the mens fatigues, but not the ones popular today. Marine God Puller: Sgt. Lena Basilone Pictures - Blogger May they unit in heaven & continue their love story forever, Its the women our lives that makes coming home worth it. After he was released from active duty, Basilone returned home and worked as a truck driver in Reisterstown, Maryland. I am a retired US Army medic that served for 33 1/2 years. John Basilone Quotes. I stop by Lenas grave every holiday Me and my Wife Debbie put flowers and a flag on her grave. At that time women were not accepted in a mans world in the military at that time. Basilone is interred in Arlington National Cemetery, in Section 12, Grave 384, grid Y/Z 23.5. My generation followed their example and I think its why I survived 5 conflicts with mild to moderate PTSD. I think it will improve the militarys ability to fight. John Basilone. You know the the part when theyre having breakfast and where John says its incredible about what can happen over a cup of coffee? Yes, Id say the operative word there is incredible considering that Lenas father and mother had both passed away by the time Lena had enlisted in 1943. She must have been a great marine. Lena served an important role though,giving the soldier good chow was a morale booster. He served as a medic like I did and later became a doctor. JOHN BASILONE OBITUARY. They were married on July 7, 1944 and spent some time together before John returned to the South Pacific. Sgt Lena Mae Riggi Basilone (1913-1999) - Find a Medal of Honor Recipients - MCA From her Find-A-Grave entry and her obituary: Lena Mae Riggi was born on March 7, 1913 in Portland, Oregon. Anyway it looks like John and Lena Basilone meet and fall in love during episode 8. 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. Semper FI, Both tremendous Marines who loved each other and their country. I have a flag and it has the names of family and friends named on it. End note 456 reads: He then attacked with grenades and demolitions, single-handedly destroying the entire strong point and its defending garrison. The Women Marines Association (WMA) Emergency Grants provide financial assistance to active duty or Veterans who are facing unexpected financial crises. She had much empathy for every veteran. Lena Riggi | The Pacific Wiki | Fandom Great Love Happens Once: The Enduring Story of Marines John and Lena Thank God she had someone. I hope we can share information! Age: 86 (3/7/1913 - 6/11/1999) Lena Mae Basilone's Relationships (1) Check out our New "Top 10 Worst . The were either Green Berets or medics, a supply clerk and even grunts. The war was shortend by what they did. Amen. Both her and her husband had each other and that was enough. On December 8, 1941, she went to go shopping. Sergeant John Basilone's legacy is one of the most expansive and visible in Marine Corps history. The television show featured her as a significant character in the final episode: The Pacific Part 8: Iwo Jima: While he is training a company of recruits in the fine art of killing Japanese, Basilone meets Lena Riggi, a female Marine just turned 30 and cynical as hell about the advances of yet another lonely guy in uniform, especially a celebrity who can get the best tables at the nicest restaurants. BASILONE, JOHN United States Marine Corps VETERAN SERVICE DATES: Unknown DATE OF DEATH: 02/19/1945 DATE OF INTERMENT: 04/20/1948 BURIED AT: SECTION 12 SITE 384 ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY Michael Robert Patterson was born in Arlington and is the son of a former officer of the US Army. Just before his 18th birthday, Basilone enlisted in the U.S. Army and served in the Philippines as an infantryman from 1934 to 1937. Thats a hard thing to take, but she took it and carried on. But she always contended it would be too much trouble. I served as a medic for most of Army career of 33 1/2 yrs and would not have missed it for the world. While stationed at Camp Pendleton, he met his future wife, Lena Mae Riggi, who was a Sergeant in the Marine Corps Women's Reserve. The Lena I knew would rather be buried where she was because she didnt seek the limelight and wanted to live a quiet life. In my mind from what I have learned about Peleiu it was a blood affair on both sides. Japan lost a key advantage of giving 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. This may include medical bills, eviction notices, or other relevant documents. It has a cost, a soldiers life. To me John was a legend whose legacy will not be matched for a long time. . Sgt Lena Mae (Riggi) Basilone - Women Marines Association What a debt we owe to that generation. I know that she and her husband are together today as they have been since her death. John Basilone - Alchetron, The Free Social Encyclopedia Thank you both for your service and sacrifice. I have found that the movie industry gets some aspects of Lenas actual life facts wrong. The homecoming parade occurred on Sunday, September 19 and drew a huge crowd with thousands of people, including politicians, celebrities, and the national press. [11] Afterwards, Private First Class Nash W. Phillips of Fayetteville, North Carolina, recalled from the battle for Guadalcanal: "Basilone had a machine gun on the go for three days and nights without sleep, rest, or food. MY dad was attached to Geigers Marines with the US Army because he did water purification,ran a medical lab in addition to his ground duties. She was never accepted by Johns family, as if she had taken him away from them. The Pacific: How Much Of John Basilone's Story Really Happened As in most documentary/films some of the scenes and portrails of Lena were not quite right. I have studied the war in the Pacific. This is how I remember those who were vets like my dad and friends including my oldest sister. #ww2 The Pacific (2010)The Pacific Box Set - https://amzn.to/2War1EEThe Pacific: Hell Was an Ocean Away (Book) - https://amzn.to/3mbQg3WLink to main channel . The Pacific War was one of the most savage wars ever fought. Eternal be his memory . Lena was raised in my hometown of Portland, OR. Although she was just. It is with great sadness that we announce the death of John R Basilone of Pemberton, New Jersey, who passed away on February 5, 2023, at the age of 66, leaving to mourn family and friends. I have written about Her for years, and a photograph of the current Headstone can be found at. There are no words to describe this amazing lady. I know she would enrich my life. His actions at Guadalcanal earned him the Medal of Honor. Virginia Grey Hollywood Starlet & Pin Up - WW2 DOG TAGS 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. Wendy 2003 How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days: Jeannie Ashcroft 2004 Pagans: Elise Ashton 2004 National Treasure: Agent Dawes We do a ceremony every wednesday for Vets without Families WE look straight out on her grave Rest in Peace Lena Basilone. But the cynicism did not last, and Lena and John married in the summer of 1944: What I have learned about John Basilone has been influential on how I did my job as an NCO. Thank You David. Lena Basilone returns her late husband's Medal of Honor to his family.From HBO's "The Pacific", episode 10 of 10. Virginia Grey dated John Basilone in the past, but they have since broken up. To me as I have said before was a legend of her own in the Marine Corps. The U.S. Navy named a destroyer after him in 1945, which Lena Mae christened. and for the families they left behind.. I just have very much respect for both John and Lena for making the personal sacrifice, and for John making the ultimate sacrifice. I caught heck from Mom for not writing. She remained married to her hero for the rest of her life . Although she was just. I thank you for you service and recognize what you did for us soldiers Respectfully,SSG.RichardDocBorenstein(Retired) Combat Medic, Welcome David: My name is SSG RickDoc Borenstein I served in the US Army from 1973-2007 and retired. Lena Basilone and the Women Marines. Fortunately, I had an uncle who was a surgeon on the civilian side who took care of the problem> I served as a medic in the US Army by default.