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. I think it will improve the militarys ability to fight. The were either Green Berets or medics, a supply clerk and even grunts. My father was a medic,like me. DocBorenstein Lena loved her volunteer work at the VA Hospital in Long Beach. 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. Thank You very much for being Lenas family. He was one of only three Marines in that group to survive. In February 1945, he was killed in action on the first day of the invasion of Iwo Jima, after he single-handedly destroyed an enemy blockhouse and led a Marine tank under fire safely through a minefield. Each time his visions came to pass - including the last - foretelling his death. She helped many veterans at the VA Medical center where she lived. I hope in some small measure I brought honor to Lena. If Gy Basilone, one of the greatest Marines who ever lived, had respect for a Woman Marine enough to marry one, then they need to show respect, too! I cannot imagine what physical pain he suffered and emotional pain Lena endured. I didnt write for periods up to 1 month. . On October 24, 1942, John Basilone was supporting the war effort in the Lunga Area. 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. My cousins, and two uncles fought there and I learned quickly what Vietnam was about. Though a miniseries of its own, The Pacific was created as a companion to another popular wartime miniseries by HBO: Band of Brothers, which premiered in 2001 and focused on World War II.The Pacific presents the stories of three U.S. Marine Corps members - Eugene Sledge, Robert Leckie, and John Basilone - and their experiences in the Pacific Theater of Operations during the Pacific War. Basilone died before he and his new wife had time to have children. And I hope that in some small way I brought joy to her life, I know she enriched mine ! She got so excited around Christmas when it was time to get gifts together to take to the wounded war heroes!! Hi Robin: I second what you said. So these male Marines of today who want to diss on women in the Corps need to be quiet. I reluctantly want to fight wars but as a medic we are needed to ease the suffering and save lives, Hi SGT Rick, i love everything about the greatest generation. My father served in the Pacific and took part in the Central Pacific and Palau campaign(Peleliu). He gallantly gave his life in the service of his country. I am proud to speak to a member of John and Lenas family, Hi Vera, are you a relative of SGT Basilone? The young people in our church adored her even though she was tough with them. She was the wife of John Basilone, one of the famous Marines every Marine Corps recruit learns about at boot camp. John taught me to lead my medics well and to take care of them as he did his Marines. Many airmens lives were saved as a result because fighter escort was there too to shepard the bombers that went to Japan. It was there that John died, in an exchange of heavy gunfire on the island of Iwo Jima. But the cynicism did not last, and Lena and John married in the summer of 1944: Semper FI, Both tremendous Marines who loved each other and their country. He was in a good emplacement, and causing the Japanese lots of trouble, not only firing his machine gun, but also using his pistol."[8]. Famous John Basilone was born on November 4, 1916 in United States. May they unit in heaven & continue their love story forever, Its the women our lives that makes coming home worth it. Japan two hours of early warning of raids. To apply for a WMA Emergency Grant, you must complete the online application form and provide documentation of your financial emergency. Thanks Robin. I wish she could see, hear and read the admiration so many have for her. . 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. We did our jobs and what were asked to do. She made an effort to reconcile with them after the war when she visited and presented to the family Johns Medal of Honor. We were proud to do this.You make our sacrifices bearable. For extraordinary heroism while serving as a Leader of a Machine-Gun Section, Company C, 1st Battalion, 27th Marines, 5th Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Iwo Jima in the Volcano Islands, 19 February 1945. They were both rare kind of Marines. I am so proud to be from a military family. A scrapbook compiled by the family of US Marine Sgt. These Marines were the pioneers who created an Army I passed my torch unto as well as Marine Corps we have today. 75 years after, my heart had broke. Lena and John fall in love and were married on July 10, 1944. [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. This is what I remember about Lena. Peter J. Basilone, register of wills for Baltimore County and a former state legislator, died Thursday of liver cancer at his Towson residence. I wished he didnt go back to war but he was truly a hero and great marine. From her Find-A-Grave entry and her obituary: Lena Mae Riggi was born on March 7, 1913 in Portland, Oregon. I deserved it. Wow! i know in the movie she went to visit his parents. We will be running around all weekend for various events with the Commandant of the Marine Corps and of course multiple Iwo Jima survivors. Lena was ahead of her time as were many women Marines. I tried my hardest through the years to get Lena to consent to be buried in Arlington Natioal Cemetary with her Johnny. I think you went through a tougher ringer than I did with exception for Iraq. [8] After driving trucks for a few years, he wanted to go back to Manila and believed he could get there faster by serving in the Marine Corps rather than in the Army. 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. Thanks for taking care of Lena, Stella: My dad was a veteran of the Pacific. Shirt sleeves rolled up and of course the regulation short hair in hairnets!! I am proud to be a citizen from the same country, USA, as these two remarkable people and salute their service and sacrifices. I stop by Lenas grave every holiday Me and my Wife Debbie put flowers and a flag on her grave. He enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1940, in Baltimore, Maryland. : http://www.facebook.com/groups/10868541353/. Leave a sympathy message to the family on the memorial page of John R Basilone to pay them a last tribute. Madly in love by all accounts from their time at Camp Pendleton, Lena and John would enjoy just seven months as husband and wife before John's fateful landing on Red Beach II of Iwo Jima in February 1945. As in most documentary/films some of the scenes and portrails of Lena were not quite right. Lena saw to it that I got the care I needed that day and helped me work through the system there. John Basilone (November 4, 1916 - February 19, 1945) was a United States Marine Corps Gunnery Sergeant who received the Medal of Honor 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 Iwo Jima. [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. I have been trying to find you. I wish i was around then. 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. I kind of figured Lenas headsone would not be in the location it was supposed to be. While stationed at Camp Pendleton, he met his future wife, Lena Mae Riggi, who was a Sergeant in the Marine Corps Women's Reserve. I have learned about what my dad and other Marines did through other Marines and Soldiers.who served with him. I love my Vietnam compadres and family. Explore John Basilone net worth, birthday, height, age, bio, salary, 2023! He was the only enlisted Marine to receive both of these decorations in World War II. If I myself was able to sacrifice myself to save even 2 people I had never met, believe me, I would do that. Deeply moved and deeply saddened by the story of John and Lena. Lena too lived a life of service Helping many veterans. My father was on Peleiliu as a medic and thats what I think spooked him and he finished the war in Hawaii. Barbara; Thank you for this insight in to Lena Basilone. John Basilone was a United States Marine who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroic actions during the Battle of Guadalcanal in World War II. The date was February 19, 1945. She was a Marine, so she already earns much respect. I was treated a few times at the VA facility in Long Beach where Lena helped get a lol of us through the system at the hospital. We spoke once, I am Lena Riggi BAsilones niece, Lost your number in Computer world of storms. John met Lena at Pendleton,it took a while because Lena was her own woman and a noncomissioned officer whe eventually attained the rank of Master Sergeant, She did not rush to John immediately as you saw in the Pacific but once she did they were head over heels for each other.John was a no nonsense Gunnery Sergeant and was very good with a machine gun and thats what got him the Congressional Medal of Honor(equivalent to a Victoria Cross). The John Basilone Memorial Parade is the only parade in the country honoring a World War II hero. There are few like them. Correction here: No such thing as a MOH winner. He is one of the reasons why I joined the Marine Corp! You were lucky to get to know her, even a little! John Basilone was born to be a United States Marine. A very young, excited female Marine escorted her to the front of the room to cut the ceremonial cake! VERY fascinating story about both Gy Basilone and Sgt Lena. Basilone, [] As I have commented she was a LEGEND as was John. they have only received veterans status within the last 15-20 years. During her time there she met John Basilone, a Marine and the first United States decorated World War II hero. The Lena I knew would rather be buried where she was because she didnt seek the limelight and wanted to live a quiet life. I rate the Pacific at about 95% correct. (reprinted by the John Basilone Stamp Campaign), John Basilone meets the Mayor of New York, Last edited on 21 February 2023, at 22:45, List of historically notable United States Marines, List of Medal of Honor recipients for World War II, "Annual John Basilone Parade stirs feelings of patriotism, Jersey pride", "Four Distinguished Marines Saluted on U.S. Postage Stamps", United States Army Center of Military History, "Resort Style Senior Living | California Lutheran Homes | Carlsbad by the Sea", "The Story of Gunnery Sergeant John Basilone Part 3", "Burial Detail: Basilone, John (Section 12, Grave 384) Birth Date: 11/04/1916; Death Date: 02/19/1945; Interment Date: 04/20/1948", "Raritan Public Library "Basilone Room"Gy/Sgt John Basilone ribbons", "SCR 25 Gunnery Sergeant John Basilone Memorial Freeway", "company-c-fights-up-hill-battle-basilones-challenge", "Honoring One Marine To Remember Them All: WWII Hero Gets Plaque at Navy Memorial", "Raritan to honor its fallen son with 33rd Annual John Basilone Memorial Parade", "Raritan's World War II hero John Basilone inducted into NJ Hall of Fame", "JOHN BASILONE Historical Raritan (19161945)", Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, "John Basilone's Medal of Honor Ceremony remembered by Marine Sidney Phillips", United States Marine Corps History Division Gunnery Sergeant John Basilone Biography, Medal of Honor Recipients Depicted in Film, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=John_Basilone&oldid=1140815348, An entry point onto Camp Pendleton from US, US Interstate 5 from the San Diego County line to Camp Pendleton to the south is called "Gunnery Sergeant John Basilone Memorial Highway", In 1944, Army Barracks from Washington state were moved to a site in front of. Doc..thanks for the reply. John was killed on Iwo Jima February 19, 1945 just seven months after marrying the love of his life and seven months before the allies would declare victory in the Pacific. Semper Fi. Age: 86 (3/7/1913 - 6/11/1999) Lena Mae Basilone's Relationships (1) Check out our New "Top 10 Worst . We also appreciated the material contributions you made to the war effort.As medics, my father and I kept many people alive when injured but we also kept them up mentally and maintained their health. to me it was a tough and frustrating war in many ways. My father was in the Pacific with the 32nd and 81st. . One of her few, if not only, public appearances after Johns death was about nine months after he died. She was very selfless.and helped without expecting anything in return. However, I was impressed by the story of Lena and John Basilone. I am glad that someone was able to be with Lena. 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. I claim nothing in this video. I think their story is wonderful, and I am honoring our heritage as women in the Marines and her service to our nation by writing about the lost story of her life. Women marines can be rifleman which it is only right and fair. I think it is what spooked him from combat. I caught the tail end of it when we had to get our ADA missiles out of there. God bless Lena and John in as they are together in the World without end. The other person that helped vets in the LA area was Audie L Murphys wife, Terry. The Remagen bridge commanders I think forgot about safety, which at that time the bridge was needed to get men and equipment into Germany to sustain the offensive they started. Eternal be his memory . 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. A colossal critical and commercial failure, it essentially marked the end of Hunter's career as a major Hollywood player. The legs were long, so they were rolled up.the waist was generally too big, so the y cinched up a belt around their waist. Hi Vera: I am pleased to read your post. Virginia Grey dated John Basilone in the past, but they have since broken up. They both left with honorable discharges and they were both Sargents. When the last of the ammunition ran out shortly before dawn on the second day, Basilone, using his pistol and a machete, held off the Japanese soldiers attacking his position. They are soldiers with a purpose, soldiers who are tough, and agree with marine message that they are the best, the toughest, and will take on and complete any mission handed them. I knew of only one other like her,Terry Murphy Audie Murphys wife.,he died in 1971. I suspect she feared if she was buried next to John, that might have dredged up old wounds with the family. A recent visit to the battle sites and the cemeteries in Europe was a moving experience and a grim reminder of sacrifices made for the freedom we enjoy!