strips, they finally agreed to put Sgt.on her grave marker. Thanks, Dave. Thank God she had someone. On December 8, 1941, she went to go shopping. 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). This is how I remember those who were vets like my dad and friends including my oldest sister. Basilone's wife, Lena Mae, never remarried. My uncle Murray a medic did duty with the USMC and Army on Okinawa, My other uncle Dwight did a week on Iwo Jima before he was wounded twice and got oft the Island. John Basilone, a recipient of the . The military's standard procedure is to notify the family before the media. Basilone died before he and his new wife had time to have children. I got a lot of insights on it from my high school teachers who fought as Marines in the Pacific. Deeply moved and deeply saddened by the story of John and Lena. The other person that helped vets in the LA area was Audie L Murphys wife, Terry. He met his future wife, Lena Mae Riggi, while . I am glad that someone stepped in to be family for her. However, I was impressed by the story of Lena and John Basilone. They both are heros of mine. Her favorite framed picture of Johnny always sat looking at her from atop her TV! War was fought with the idea that you do what you must do to win. Amen. Their bomber was called Cabin In the sky. I am proud to call John and Lena. Thank you? I think the I dont want to be a bother remark reflected the reported poor treatment she received from Basilones family. On the night of October 25, 1942, the Japanese focused their attack on John Basilone's units. The John Basilone Memorial Parade is the only parade in the country honoring a World War II hero. They were good examples which I followed. I am a huge fan of him and his wife. He left for Camp Pendleton, California, for training on December 27. May God Bless John and Lena Basilone. Widowed Unfortunately, Basilone was killed in action on Iwo Jima. I did start watching The Pacific after reading a few of these comments, and I have to say that it is a very emotional rollercoaster of a miniseries. Basilone: Directed by David Nutter. I ran into Mrs. Basilone @ the VA when I need help navigating the system, She was there for me. At 7 p.m. Sept. 17, the Raritan Valley Symphonic Band will present the free 27th John Basilone Commemorative Concert at Raritan Valley Community College in Branchburg. I myself was never able to enlist or join any branch of the service due to many medical issues, but I had tried many times. Thank you both for your service to the greatest nation in the world. Womens symposium focuses on family unit, Sgt Lena Basilone Part Three The semi-normal, day-to-day life of a female Marine, John Basilone: Returning to the Fight After Earning Medal of Honor, Read the Signs along the Road :: Stolinsky.com | Conservative political and social commentary, Sunday Salute: Sergeant Lena Riggi Basilone Deb Sinness, Author, Follow Women Marines Association on WordPress.com, Little Marine's Journal: Why I Joined the Marine Corps, Exercise Sudden Response 23 [Image 1 of 6], Exercise Sudden Response 23 [Image 2 of 6], Exercise Sudden Response 23 [Image 3 of 6], Exercise Sudden Response 23 [Image 4 of 6], Marine 1st sergeant uses combat experience to save man hit by car, 3D animation shows the inner-workings of an AR-15, Everything we know Gen. Milley has told the Jan. 6 panel, As Ukraine highlights value of killer drones, Marine Corps wants more. I see that your family had a lot of marines and sailors, as are some members of my family. (Thats my VietNam). In 21 Dec 1945 Lena christened a Navy destroyer ship named the USS Basilone in her husband's honor. 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. She even said when you had the best,who wants the rest especially after John was killed at Iwo Jima. Lena Basilone returns her late husband's Medal of Honor to his family.From HBO's "The Pacific", episode 10 of 10. During the fighting on Guadalcanal in October 1942, Basilone's actions would result in him being awarded the Medal of Honor. I was so happy for them both when they got married. She worked for the electric company and volunteered countless hours of her time at the Womens Marine Association, the American Veterans Auxiliary, and the Long Beach Veterans Hospital. [9][10] As the battle went on, ammunition became critically low. 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. Lena as a dear and precious friend of mine. I met her sometime in 1986 when she visited our church and we became instant friends. My father was a medic,like me. I caught the tail end of it when we had to get our ADA missiles out of there. 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. I am proud to speak to a member of John and Lenas family, Hi Vera, are you a relative of SGT Basilone? Her spirit still lives on.. "Lena was notified of Johnny's death on March 7, 1945. John Basilone: An article in Monday's Calendar section about John Basilone, whose death on Iwo Jima was marked on the HBO series "The Pacific," described him as a Congressional Medal of. I found Lena in both the 1930 and 1940 censusand was very surprised and excited to learn that not only was she an Oregonian, shes was basically for me a local girl! She was raised and lived and worked in places less than an hours drive from where I live now! Ssg Rick Doc Borenstein (Ret) Combat Medic.As we come to remember our fallen comrades which includes Johe Basilone Jr. Vera.and Msg Lena Basilone, I take pride in theilives and their leadership as USMC NCOs. John Basilone's passing at the age of 66 on Sunday, February 5, 2023 has been publicly announced by Bradley and Stow Funeral Home in Medford, NJ. Please feel free to email me at the address below or Alison.Bardeguez@usmc.mil, I just want to say what a beautiful story of your meeting and becoming her friend. Ive watched the HBO series several times. His widow, Lena M. Basilone, died 11-06-1999, aged 86, in Lakewood, Los Angeles County, California, USA and is buried at Riverside National Cemetery in Riverside, California. I think my Fathers generation were legends. Larry, Thanks for doing what you are doing this. I hope that eventually she will be interned with her husband. Its great to learn more about the people behind the name. There are no words to describe this amazing lady. Lena Basilone teachs me a lot even after she is gone from our presence. My husband was stationed in California in the 80s; I even stayed with one of his relatives in Riverside while he checked in at MCRD San Diego. She purchased a home in Lakewood, California and lived there for over 50 years until her death. Leatherneck November 1988. Just thought her comment about not wanting to be a bother to anyone was a bit unusual..but am beginning to see that it was instead just very much in her character. She gave to his family to not be selfish and share. Lena never remarried. Lena's obituary notes that she never remarried and was buried still wearing her wedding ring. My hero as well as her husband. SSG.RickDoc: I completed 33 yrs of service to the US Army.My uncles and cousins have been Marines. John Basilone's Grave. I have found that the movie industry gets some aspects of Lenas actual life facts wrong. The lady was happy to know that Lena was also a Portland Marine. Lena was the same kind of a Marine too. For his actions during the battle, Basilone received the United States military's highest award for valor, the Medal of Honor. The price of freedom is not cheap. Once again, Basilone would be leading Marines in combat with the Japanese as a machine gun section leader. It is the blood of John and those who served that binds the mortar of the foundation of the greatest nation ever! The tickets are free but . Basilone's mother, Theadora Bencivenga, was born in 1889 and grew up in Manville, New Jersey, but her parents, Carlo and Catrina, also came from Benevento. She had a U.S. Marine Corps sign on the walker, so I asked her if she was a Marine. She died in 1999 and was buried wearing her wedding ring. I have studied the war in the Pacific. [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. I have learned about what my dad and other Marines did through other Marines and Soldiers.who served with him. 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! I am not the Richard who posted this excellent comment. Fortunately, I have known a lot of Lenas who I served with. We, as a nation, have been blessed to have such people serving to defend us. I suspect she feared if she was buried next to John, that might have dredged up old wounds with the family. He was 78. Marine Sergeant John Basilone receives his Medal of Honor in recognition of his heroism on Guadalcanal on October 24-25, 1942. I want to honor her life and her lost story- but I cannot do that properly without personal testament. I just watched HBO's The Pacific episode 7, it was great, tons of action. I wanted t join the USMC in 1st MARDIV but my cousin and uncle were already there and I had to settle for the Army. I think I am beginning to understand Lena a bit better. If the name does not sound familiar, you may recognize her married name: Basilone. Nick Name: Manila John Also Known As: Manila John Died At Age: 28 Family: Spouse/Ex-: Lena Mae Riggi (m. 1944) father: Salvatore Basilone mother: Theadora Bencivenga Born Country: United States Soldiers American Men Height: 1.8 m Died on: February 19, 1945 place of death: Ogasawara, Tokyo, Japan Ancestry: Italian American If a couple should ever be in Heaven its them. 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. he met his future wife, Lena Mae Riggi, who was a Sergeant in the Marine Corps Women's Reserve. Lena never remarried. I rate the Pacific at about 95% correct. I felt both sides descended in to a hell that was what unimaginable to the human mind. If I myself was able to sacrifice myself to save even 2 people I had never met, believe me, I would do that. I am a child of the Vietnam era and I was shaped by those soldiers who fought in Vietnam and adapted to them. It doesnt go into as much depth as you have but it does give her closure in the series. But his place was with "my boys", so he ignored the vision and returned to battle . I just had a question, was she close to his family after he passed? Another USS John Basilone is My dad was in the Peleliu campaign as part of the US Armys 81st Division who finished the campaign at Angaur, a neighboring island. The Basilones are a happy loving couple for the eternity. My uncles Dwight, Gil and Corky fought on Iwo. Women Marines are such an important part of the Marine Corps. I pray for all of them. Anyway it looks like John and Lena Basilone meet and fall in love during episode 8. Megan, I met Lena long after she served in the USMC. If possible I would like to speak with you about setting up an introduction so that his niece can speak with you. I had members of my family who served in the USMC and some were on Guadalcanal and Iwo Jima. He was the only enlisted Marine to receive both of these . God bless Sgt. On the night of Oct. 24, 1942, on the island of Guadalcanal, a Japanese regiment of 3,000 troops attacked a handful of Marines, including Sergeant Basilone. This is where the television show concludes and unfortunately for curious viewers, the show apparently did not include any follow-up information about John Basilones widow. She was buried at Riverside National Cemetary at her request. Few veterans around the world have a system like and we can make it better. In our Baptist church whenever we sang The Battle Hymn of the Republic she would stand up and get everyone marching behind her all around the auditorium!!! He clearly foresaw his future three separate times. My dad served in the Pacific with the US Army who was in the Marshall Island, Marianas,and Peleliu. That kept me young at heart, As a medic, who has PTSD I gotta get out or let it all hang out. As a veteran, I have profound respect for her service to this country. I write this with tears streaming as I think about the years of fun we shared together. Regards Doc I Was A combat medic like my father, Thank You for thinking of Lena Basilone.She did a lot as was mentioned in my previous comments.She helped a lot of our veterans get access to services they needed. . She lived in California, worked for the electric company, and volunteered to serve in several organizations related to Marine. He was killed on February 19, 1945 in an exchange of heavy gunfire on Iwo Jima. Lena was also very prominent in veterans affairs. She did have beautiful soft natural slightly curly hair, and she kept it short.. Came here because I just saw the 8th Episode of The Pacific. I hope we can share information! Paul I want to learn about Nam because what my commanders in Basic, AIT, and even in units I later joined trained this old medic in Vietnam methods, tactics and how to stay alive, especially when the cry medic was heard, aka our fatal flaw. I wished he didnt go back to war but he was truly a hero and great marine. My mother married my father in 43 during the war and she constantly worried about him until he came. Shirt sleeves rolled up and of course the regulation short hair in hairnets!! In 1943, Basilone returned to the United States and participated in war bond tours. Grave 384, grid Y/Z 23.5. God bless! To apply for a WMA Emergency Grant, you must complete the online application form and provide documentation of your financial emergency.
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