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John Basilone (November 4, 1916 – February 19, 1945) was a United States Marine Corps gunnery sergeant who received the Medal of Honor for actions during the Battle for Henderson Field in the Guadalcanal campaign, and the Navy Cross posthumously for extraordinary heroism during the Battle of Iwo Jima.
Before becoming known for his heroic actions in combat, Basilone served as a field cook in the United States Marine Corps. While stationed at various bases, including Quantico and Parris Island, he worked in the mess hall, preparing meals for his fellow Marines.
For his gallantry and heroism, Sgt. John Basilone was the first Marine enlisted recipient of America’s highest combat award in World War II.
Within hours of landing on Iwo Jima, where he forcibly got his men up and off the beach, Basilone was killed by an enemy mortar round at age 27. For his heroism there, he was awarded the Navy...
John Basilone (November 4, 1916 – February 19, 1945) was a United States Marine Corps gunnery sergeant who was killed in action during World War II. He 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 ...
Gunnery Sergeant John Basilone, of Raritan, New Jersey, was awarded the Medal of Honor in recognition of his outstanding heroism at Guadalcanal. Later, during the Iwo Jima campaign, he was killed in action on D-Day, 19 February 1945.
Feb 28, 2019 · Born on November 4, 1916 in Buffalo, New York and raised in Raritan, New Jersey, Basilone would go on to become the first U.S. Marine of enlisted rank to earn the Congressional Medal of Honor during World War II. He was also the only enlisted Marine to earn the Navy Cross posthumously.
