Who was John Basilone? He was a Marine Sergeant who was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions at Guadalcanal and the Navy Cross (posthumously) at Iwo Jima during WWII. Warning: Video clips contain graphic violence and some offensive language.
HBO Tribute: John Basilone Remembered
GUADALCANAL: On October 24, 1942, 3,000 Japanese began an attack to take control of the airstrip (Henderson Field) on Guadalcanal...Basilone commanded two sections of machine guns (15 men) that maintained continuous fire for 3 days and nights without food or sleep. They fought using defensive positions until only he and 2 other Marines remained. During the battle, ammunition ran critically low and John fought through hostile enemy lines to resupply his fellow soldiers with urgently needed ammunition, at times using only a .45 caliber pistol. Following this battle, John was awarded The Medal of Honor and ordered to return to the United States where he helped the government raise millions of dollars in a War Bond Tour. He continually requested to return to fighting and after getting married was reassigned to the Pacific Theatre in early 1945.
Basilone "Buy War Bonds" Poster
IWO JIMA: On February 19, 1945, Basilone led his men on to the beach at Iwo Jima where they were quickly pinned down by heavy Japanese machine gun and artillery fire. He charged the machine gun nest, destroyed it with grenades/ demolitions, and led his men off the beach to begin the battle for Henderson Field.
HBO: Iwo Jima Attack Scenes
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CWG-ViT4lpg (10:20)
While advancing toward Henderson Field, he helped an American tank that was trapped in a Japanese mine field and was killed by enemy mortars. John Basilone's actions during the early stages of the amphibious landing at Iwo Jima helped his fellow Marines attack nearly impenetrable Japanese forces and fight their way off of the beach.
John Basilone is interred at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia.
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