or don't show this againI am good at figuring things out. John Basilone (November 4, 1916 - February 19, 1945) was a United States Marine Gunnery Sergeant who received the Medal of Honor for his actions at the Battle of Guadalcanal during World War II. The heart broken widow bride - History of Sorts John Basilone was born in 1916 in Buffalo, New York, one of 10 children of Salvatore and Dora Basilone. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, Gloria Vanderbilt told Anderson Cooper not to expect a trust fund. Basilone is interred in Arlington National Cemetery and has not been forgotten: in July 1949, the destroyer USS Basilone (DD 824) was named in his honor. The words echoed in my ears long after Id left him. (66 years old). We try to present our students with historical topics that are both diverse and a bit out of the ordinary. You can find out more about which cookies we are using or switch them off in settings. According to Lenas niece, Fiddle Viracola, Lena would always say Great love only happens once. ; his grandchildren, Brianna Basilone, Aiden Basilone, Zoey Olivera, Adelyn Olivera, Emma Olivera and Logan Basilone; his brother James R. Basilone (Susanne) of Cinnaminson, NJ; his nephew Dean Zinetti; and his niece Crystal Farrell. Lena Mae Riggi was born on March 7, 1913 in Portland, Oregon. "We talked of our life after the war - what we would name the first boy and the first girl," Basilone said in Hero of the Pacific. John Basilone was the only enlisted Marine in World War II to receive the Medal of Honor and the Navy Cross. Your new password must contain one or more uppercase and lowercase letters, and one or more numbers or special characters. This strategically situated eight-square-mile island, located halfway between Tokyo and Saipan, had two good airfields. Her attitude was I can do anything they (men) can do. . This Valentines Day, take a step back to recognize these people and dont forget that time is the most precious gift you could give them, An official website of the United States government, Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil.
