He clearly foresaw his future three separate times. Its a warm joy to read the postings here. The Women Marines Association (WMA) Emergency Grants provide financial assistance to active duty or Veterans who are facing unexpected financial crises. I am amazed that they kept their mental sanity, but did suffer from PTSD as I do. "Sgt. Regardless of Service Branch, we all, will forever belong to a Band of Brothers and Sisters that only we can understand. . According to the funeral . Think we need more people like Lena, your Dad, and yourself. I agree, Lena was a loyal wife to a great Marine! We both felt there was bigger job to medics. I kind of figured Lenas headsone would not be in the location it was supposed to be. She was definitely an in charge Sergeant,but was well respected because she too could lead. Date of Death : February 19, 1945, Iwo Jima Airport / Iohjima Airport / Iohtoh Airport, Ogasawara, Tokyo, Japan : Place of Birth : Buffalo : Country: . Naval Service.[11]. During her participation in WWII bond drives, she developed a close relationship with John Basilone, US Marine Medal of Honor recipient, who was later killed on Iwo Jima. Ive met only recently the story of John Basilone and now, thanks to your words, even a little of the life of Lena. Ca.. We were proud to do this.You make our sacrifices bearable. The story of "Manila John" is part of every Marine's boot camp education. Lena lost her husband within A few short months after their wedding . After her funeral I had copies of their wedding picture made and sent to those who attended and left their addresses (I sent other things also, but cant remember exactlynow that I am 80!) I am proud to be a citizen from the same country, USA, as these two remarkable people and salute their service and sacrifices. I hope that eventually she will be interned with her husband. i am very proud of both my brothers as they got many commendations from their service. I know through history lessons and though reading many books that John Basilone had done exactly what I would have done if given the chance. I hope we can share information! However, in my research: Ive discovered several factual errors in the miniseries re: the episodes showing the courtship of John and Lena. The Marine Corps denied his request and told him he was needed more on the home front. Also, just as deeply in awe of Johns heroism, his ultimate sacrifice, and Lenas continued devotion to him for over 50 years. Gracias, amiga! [20], He was buried at Arlington National Cemetery, in Arlington, Virginia. If the name does not sound familiar, you may recognize her married name: Basilone. WEnow are beginning to treat veterans with this problem. Sgt. While the Marines landed, the Japanese concentrated their fire at the incoming Marines from heavily fortified blockhouses staged throughout the island. Doc After I sent any piece of information I could find acknowledging her as Sgt. I have had my father, uncles, and even grandfathers who fought in WW II and have had find out what it was like because vets find it easier to talk to other vets. I saw how ugly war gets, but I was a medic who had to be there to minimize the suffering of both sides. Having Served 21 years of Active Duty from 1970 to 1992. It was so my privilege to know Lena as my dear friend! Megan, I met Lena long after she served in the USMC. His arrival was highly publicized, and his hometown held a parade in his honor when he returned. I knew Lena briefly because I had to have an urgent medical problem taken care of at the VA and she helped me cut much of the red tape. She died 55 years after her husband, in 1999, and was buried wearing her wedding ring. P.S. My uncles in WW II served both in Europe and the Pacific. I appreciate Barbara Garners knowledge of Lena because I think she is a daughter to Lena. I had members of my family who served in the USMC and some were on Guadalcanal and Iwo Jima. Thats typical. I have been a combat veteran from the Vietnam era to Iraq. The top brass who gave the OK should be the ones to blame. I didnt write for periods up to 1 month. 1939. Leave a sympathy message to the family on the memorial page of John R Basilone to pay them a last tribute. Only 34 Japanese survived it. Gunnery Sergeant John Basilone / USMC (1916-1945): . I hope in some small measure I brought honor to Lena. Through smoke and screaming and the crush of mortar fire, John Basilone never faltered. We do a ceremony every wednesday for Vets without Families WE look straight out on her grave Rest in Peace Lena Basilone. Thanks to a character in the recent television series called The Pacific, the name of a female Marine has made an appearance on the pop culture radar: Lena Mae Riggi. BASILONE, in charge of 2 sections of heavy machine guns, fought valiantly to check the savage and determined assault. 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. [2] He was the sixth of ten children. I know she would enrich my life. My dad and I were medics, My dad fought alongside the Marines as an Army medic.He saw battle in the Marshall,Marianas islands and Peleliu.We looked like the infantry,because we carried rifles,and other weapons as we needed to protect our selves as well as patients. Lena was definitely one of a kind. The television show featured her as a significant character in the final episode: The Pacific Part 8: Iwo Jima: While he is training a company of recruits in the fine art of killing Japanese, Basilone meets Lena Riggi, a female Marine just turned 30 and cynical as hell about the advances of yet another lonely guy in uniform, especially a celebrity who can get the best tables at the nicest restaurants. for service as set forth in the following CITATION: For extraordinary heroism and conspicuous gallantry in action against enemy Japanese forces, above and beyond the call of duty, while serving with the 1st Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division in the Lunga Area, Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, on 24 and 25 October 1942. I have 8 combat campaigns from Vietnam era to Iraq.It was my frame of combat reference.. God bless Sgt. It has a cost, a soldiers life. I salute her, Ms. Garner: I saw the PACIFIC documentary. After Gable's third wife, Carole Lombard, died in 1942 and he returned from military service in 1944, he and Virginia were often seen at restaurants and nightclubs together. 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!!! My cousins, and two uncles fought there and I learned quickly what Vietnam was about. There are few like them. Please let me know. That was their mistake. 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. : http://www.facebook.com/groups/10868541353/. My I lost an uncle who flew a B24. Lena never remarried. Although she was just. As I have commented she was a LEGEND as was John. John Basilone, who had already served three years in the Phillippines with the U.S. Army when he joined the Marines in 1940 as a machine gunner with C Company, 1st Battalion, 1st Marine . She was as fun, compassionate and loving as she was tough. Jesse:Do not ever feel disappointed that you could not serve.We volunteered as did the Basilones. It was the only one standing as the 9th Division approached and crossed it. John Basilone, a recipient of the . I hope that you dont get what Im saying to you wrong Im not beating you up its just saying what Ive learned from the older Marines was the thing to do. Though the battle was fierce and the Marines' defensive positions were being barraged, Sgt. (source). After receiving the Medal of Honor for his actions at Guadalcanal, Marine Corps legend GySgt John Basilone fought in the Battle of Iwo Jima. Let us remember who they were and the ultimate sacrifice made for us all. And finally, while home on leave, Basilone predicts his own death on Iwo Jima. I have learned about what my dad and other Marines did through other Marines and Soldiers.who served with him. Lena too lived a life of service Helping many veterans. After he was released from active duty, Basilone returned home and worked as a truck driver in Reisterstown, Maryland. America was so much better i am sure. With James Badge Dale, Joseph Mazzello, Jon Seda, Jon Bernthal. My generation followed their example and I think its why I survived 5 conflicts with mild to moderate PTSD. Im writing a piece on Lena Basilone, I am a Marine and have been looking to speak with people that could share stories about Lena, and her life of love, friendship and her service to veterans after the Marine Corps. Lena's obituary notes that she never remarried and was buried still wearing her wedding ring. Not long after their wedding he shipped out to Iwo Jima and in February of 1945 he was killed in battle. I am pleased know of a member of John Basilones family. Although she was just. [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. Her life and her love is a chapter sadly left untold. 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. I learned from others like uncles, friends and comrades. I served in 5 combat deployments. I am not nor have ever been a member of the American Armed forces. May 10, 2013!! She was the wife of John Basilone, one of the famous Marines every Marine Corps recruit learns about at boot camp. I have a flag and it has the names of family and friends named on it. I rate the Pacific at about 95% correct. 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. I would love to know if anyone knows of someone or is the person who knew Lena or even John or both while they served. This saved innumerable lives.John and Lena Basilones were legends.they contributed mightily to our victory inthe Pacific. Lena was a pioneer and an example many Marines can follow, I forgot to comment on you father. We will be running around all weekend for various events with the Commandant of the Marine Corps and of course multiple Iwo Jima survivors. 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. Basilone grew up in the nearby Raritan Town (now Borough of Raritan) where he attended St. Bernard Parochial School. Basilone was posthumously awarded the Marine Corps' second-highest decoration for valor, the Navy Cross, for extraordinary heroism during the battle of Iwo Jima. Johnny was definitely the love of her life! I was with her as she drew her last labored breath in the ER after weeks of trying to recover from the surgery. It is the blood of John and those who served that binds the mortar of the foundation of the greatest nation ever! Lena saw to it that I got the care I needed that day and helped me work through the system there. This may include medical bills, eviction notices, or other relevant documents. I had family in 1st Mar Div ahead of and had to join the Army in 73. [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. Military units comprising the Defense CBRN Response Force (DCRF) participated in Exercise [], FORT HOOD, Texas (Dec.11, 2022) Members of the search fire and rescue team, assigned to the Marine Corps Chemical, Biological Incident Response Force, drill through concrete while conducting a rescue during Exercise Sudden Response 23 at Fort Hood, Texas Dec. 11, 2022. War was fought with the idea that you do what you must do to win. Another USS John Basilone is scheduled for commission in 2019. "If the Japanese force got through Basilone . Amen. . 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. I then years later caught the Gulf war, Korea, Bosnia and Iraq. 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 are a better world because of them Regards, Doc. The young people in our church adored her even though she was tough with them. "That was our first real look, up close, at the war."-John Basilone. "My heart is full of both sadness and joy today," Imbese said after the ceremony. Shirt sleeves rolled up and of course the regulation short hair in hairnets!! This is what I remember about Lena. I worked every day of my EMS career to prevent this. I am at least a 3rd generation medic. I served for 34 years nearly and the others did service from 4-30 years.I definitely appreciate what family did in Vietnam. If any of you served with or knew Lena please let me know. The war was shortend by what they did. [22], Gunnery Sergeant Basilone's military awards include:[23]. With his unit pinned down, Basilone made his way around the side of the Japanese positions until he was directly on top of the blockhouse. I will also remember Audie L. Murphys wife Terrry along with Lena who helped us wounded vets navigate through the VA system and get the help we needed. Deeply moved and deeply saddened by the story of John and Lena. I am amazed that many men did come out psychologically scarred, having no treatment.but still got their live together to function and cope To me Lenas generation was a very strong one. I lost some high school buddies that went to Nam as well some in later conflicts. Lena was notified of his death on March 7, 1945 her 32nd birthday. I found your blog by chance and thoroughly enjoyed this article about Lena. Women recently won an important victory, they now can be combat arms officers. However, this time my sentiments were of the lives and the wonderment of them as people. For his actions during the battle, Basilone received the United States military's highest award for valor, the Medal of Honor. January. To my knowledge, Lena never had long hair and I dont think in those days it was allowed by the WMS. Lena was a person who lived life with a low profile and she was laid to rest in Riverside countys VA cemetery. Lena lives within a lot of us,sons of Pacific veterans and contemporary Marines and soldiers.Regards,SSG Rick ,Doc Borenstein, Hello Mrs. Barbara Garner, are an Italian lady and my name is Stella.
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