1. Marine Corps Gunnery Sergeant John Basilone is a Medal of Honor and Navy Cross recipient who earned his medals from his bravery and valorous actions during the Pacific Island Hopping Campaign in World War II. Basilone was born on November 4th in Buffalo, New York. His family came to America as immigrants from Benevento, Italy. Bastilone first enlisted in the Army and, after his 3 year enlistment ended, he enlistment he re enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1940. After being stationed in Guantanamo Bay, he was deployed to Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands with 1st Battalion 7th Marine Regiment 1st Marine Division.
2. During the Battle of Henderson Field, also known as the Battle of Lunga Point, John Basilone commanded two machine gun sections against charging Japanese infantry. After two days of constant fighting, Basilone, and his 15 man unit, had fought off 3,000 Japanese soldiers. Throughout the battle, Basilone maintained continual machine gun fire while also repairing and arming the second machine gun. Bastilone also ran several times back and forth through the lines to resupply the desperately needed machine gun ammunition. On the second day of fighting, after no ammo remained, Bastilone and his men did not retreat but kept fighting resorting to using his pistol and bayonet. Ony Basilone and two other Marines were left standing but had annihilated the entire attacking Japanese forces. He was awarded the Medal of honor for his actions during the battle.…show more content… John Basilone was soon sent home to tour the United States as a decorated hero and sell war bonds. But he felt out of place and after several of his requests to rejoin the front lines were denied, Basilone was reassigned to 1st Battalion 27th Marine Regiment 5th Marine Division during the Invasion of Iwo
