John Basilone
Sergeant, U.S. Marine Corps
Marker Front:
Born in Buffalo NY, Novemver 4, 1916
Enlisted from Raritan, N.J., July 11, 1940
Awarded Congressional Medal Of Honor for Heroic Action on October 24, 25, 1942
Volunteered again for combat, Dec. 27, 1943
Killed in action on Iwo Jima, Feb. 19, 1945
Marker Reverse:Congressional Medal Of Honor Citation
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 October 24 and 25, 1942.
While the enemy was hammering at the Marines' defensive positions, Sergeant Basilone, in charge of two 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 Sergeant Basilone's sections, with its guncrews, was put out of action, leaving only two men able to carry on. Moving an extra gun into position, he placed it in action, then, under contiunual 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, Sergeant 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 a 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 United States Naval Service.
Franklin D. Roosevelt
President United States
Marker is at the intersection of Old York Road and Canal Street, in the median on Old York Road.
Courtesy hmdb.org
