John Basilone: A Man To Emulate…If You Can “Heroes are ordinary people who make themselves extraordinary.” (Gerard Way) John Basilone – if you’re a Marine you know of this man, if you are not a Marine you probably don’t, and that is a shame.  Like many American heroes he was not born into a rich and influential family, nor did he attend an elite college, or any collage for that matter.  Yet John Basilone accomplished more in his life than most Americans can even dream of accomplishing. On November 4, 1916, John was born in Buffalo, New York – the sixth of ten children.  His father was an Italian immigrant who worked as a tailor, and his mother was a first-generation Italian-American.  After John’s birth the family moved back to Raritan, New Jersey where he attended St. Bernard’s Catholic school through the eighth grade. After dropping out of school at 15 Basilone worked as a caddy at the local country club for three years then in July 1934, at the age of 18, he enlisted in the U.S. Army. After completing basic training, Private Basilone was sent to the Philippine Islands where he became a boxing champion and from all accounts enjoyed life in Manila muchly!  Alas, despite the attractions of the tropics in general and Manila in particular, Basilone didn’t reenlist, but instead returned to the states and was honorably discharged in 1937. Upon leaving the Army Basilone became a truck driver in Reisterstown, Maryland.  Alas, he missed Manila and enlisted in the Marines in July 1940.  He picked the Marines because he believed it would be a faster route back to the Philippines.  Unfortunately, Basilone would never again see the Philippines.  Instead, he was transferred to Cuba where he remained until 1942 when he was assigned to D company, 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division (1/7) as a machine gunner.[i] With the attack on Peral Harbor and America’s entry into World War II, the 1st Marine division consisting of the 1st, 5th, and 7th Marine infantry regiments, and the 11th artillery regiment was tasked with taking Guadalcanal.  This would be[1] the first land offensive the U.S. conducted in World War II.[i]   On August 7, 1942, the 1st Marine division, less the 7th Marines landed on Guadalcanal – an island whose strategic location would allow the Allies to challenge the Japanese’s major base of Rabaul, New Britain.[i]  The airfield on Guadalcanal would become critical to holding the Island against Japanese counterattacks. On September 18, 1942, Sergeant Basilone and the 7th Marines rejoined the 1st Marine Division and immediately took part in combat operations.  Like most who take part in war, not much is written about Sgt. Basilone during the first month he fought on Guadalcanal, but all that changed on October 24, 1942. In the month before 1/7 rejoined the 1st Division, the Japanese had pressed the Marines hard, and though they had defeated several Japanese attacks, the Japanese were not in the mood to cede Guadalcanal to the Americans.  Instead, they reinforced their forces on the Island with an estimated 15,000 troops from the battle-hardened 2nd Infantry (Sendai) Division. Based on intelligence reports, Major General Vandegrift, Commander, 1st Marine Division concluded the Japanese objective was Henderson Field, and sent 1/7 to defend a part of the perimeter protecting the all-important airfield. Sgt. Basilone and his two sections of heavy water-cooled .30 caliber machine guns were part of that line. On the night of October 24, 1942, the Japanese launched an attack with an estimated 3,000 troops that would last for three days and two nights.  Sgt. Basilone and his machine gunners were in the middle of it all. For the next two nights Basilone was everywhere.  When they were low on ammunition, he took his pistol and machete and cut through the jungle and Japanese troops who had gotten behind Basilone’s machine guns to get more.  When one of his machine guns was knocked out of action, he ran through enemy fire, repaired it, and manned it himself.  When a machine gun needed to be moved to a better position, he picked up the 90-pound weapon and moved it several hundred yards under enemy fire.  When he lost his asbestos glove used for changing red-hot barrels, he used his hand – suffering third degree burns to his hand and arms – and then just kept firing.  When the Japanese overran his position, he used his machete and pistol to fight them off. The fighting was so fierce that the Japanese dead piled up so high in front of Basilone’s position that he could note effectively engage the enemy.  Basilone’s solution?  He crawled out of his position and moved the bodies to clear his field of fire, returned to his machine gun and started firing again. When the battle finally ended, there were two Marines from Basilone’s machine gun crews left – himself and Private Nash W. Phillips.  Phillips described Sgt. Basilone’s actions: Basilone had a machine gun on the go for three days and nights without sleep, rest, or food. He was in a good emplacement, and causing the Japanese lots of trouble, not only firing his machine gun, but also using his pistol.  He was barefooted, and his eyes were red as fire.  His face was dirty black from gunfire and lack of sleep. His shirt sleeves were rolled up to his shoulders. He had a .45 tucked into the waistband of his trousers. Sgt. Basilone was credited with killing at least 38 enemy soldiers. However, then LtCol. Puller, commanding officer of 1/7 reported there were over 900 Japanese bodies in the sector Sgt. Basilone’s machine guns covered.[iv] After Guadalcanal the 1st Marine Division was rotated to Australia for rest and refit.  While in Australia Sgt. Basilone was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions on Guadalcanal – the first enlisted Marine in World War II to receive the nation’s highest award for bravery.[v] After being awarded the Medal of Honor, Sgt. Basilone … Continue reading John Basilone: A Man To Emulate…If You Can