I served for 34 years nearly and the others did service from 4-30 years.I definitely appreciate what family did in Vietnam. On the night of October 24/25, 1942, some 3,000 Japanese troops attacked the U.S. Marines defending the Lunga perimeter and Henderson Field. John Basilone Quotes. On Camp Pendelton, there is an entry point to the base from Interstate 5 called "Basilone Road." May they rest in peace. May g-d in wisdom help us fix the VA after the recent round of events. Truly a wonderful woman of strong beliefs. She was also constantly on top of mess hall sanitation too, which hers was the best on Pendleton. Megan, I met Lena long after she served in the USMC. Today, the Women's Reserve is no more. John's wife, Lena, originally from Oregon, remained in California after John's death and never remarried. My father was a medic and water purification specialist. Widowed Unfortunately, Basilone was killed in action on Iwo Jima. Basilone met his future wife, Lena Mae Riggi, who was a Sergeant in the Marine Corps Women's Reserve. I just had a question, was she close to his family after he passed? If you call any of them a winner you are disgracing the recipients and those who died earning it. On the night of October 25, 1942, the Japanese focused their attack on John Basilone's units. She helped get us through the system and see that our needs were met at the facility. It also is sad that Lena had a short time with John. He enlisted in the Marine Corps on June 3, 1940, after serving three years in the United States Army with duty in the Philippines. Why was no other keel ever laid down in his honor? She was definitely an in charge Sergeant,but was well respected because she too could lead. She one of a kind,who we may never see the likes of again. Lena as a dear and precious friend of mine. 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. I was a busy medic and many days circumstances precluded writing.We do overlook the homefront but we have better communication, specifically emails now.and Skype.Lena and John would like these changes.I served as a medic to many of the combat arms so I hope my insights help. : My dad was the same way even though. It may seem an unusual choice for many women, but based on what Im learning about Lenas life so farit was a perfectly natural choice for her! I caught the tail end of it when we had to get our ADA missiles out of there. Ms Barbara Garner: I am a retired Army medic. Again, Lena Basilone was in a league of her own and very much ahead of her time. I love my Vietnam compadres and family. It doesnt go into as much depth as you have but it does give her closure in the series. he met his future wife, Lena Mae Riggi, who was a Sergeant in the Marine Corps Women's Reserve. I think it is what spooked him from combat. [12] After the parade, Basilone toured the country raising money for the war effort and achieved celebrity status. Ric, thank you for pointing out Lena did not have John very long, in fact 7 months. I didnt realize that! I am amazed that they kept their mental sanity, but did suffer from PTSD as I do. My uncles Dwight, Gil and Corky fought on Iwo. Death At Iwo Jima They were both technically saavy at their jobs and legendary leaders as NCOs.They are heros to me, as the members of my family who answered the call and still do to this day, my family in Israel. For his heroism there, he was awarded the Navy. Many airmens lives were saved as a result because fighter escort was there too to shepard the bombers that went to Japan. They were dumb animals who wanted . I am not the Richard who posted this excellent comment. Regardless of Service Branch, we all, will forever belong to a Band of Brothers and Sisters that only we can understand. They were both rare kind of Marines. Famous Hookups; Nav; Celebrities. I served as a medic for most of Army career of 33 1/2 yrs and would not have missed it for the world. 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 As far as a documentary for Lena and John Basilone ,the Pacific is the only one I know of. [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. She helped many veterans at the VA Medical center where she lived. She was the wife of John Basilone, one of the famous Marines every Marine Corps recruit learns about at boot camp. Basilone in his personal humility and unwavering dedication to the men who served with him, became a true hero of the American people during World War II."-John Basilone. 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. . They had been married for 7.3 months. (reprinted by the John Basilone Stamp Campaign), John Basilone meets the Mayor of New York, Last edited on 21 February 2023, at 22:45, List of historically notable United States Marines, List of Medal of Honor recipients for World War II, "Annual John Basilone Parade stirs feelings of patriotism, Jersey pride", "Four Distinguished Marines Saluted on U.S. Postage Stamps", United States Army Center of Military History, "Resort Style Senior Living | California Lutheran Homes | Carlsbad by the Sea", "The Story of Gunnery Sergeant John Basilone Part 3", "Burial Detail: Basilone, John (Section 12, Grave 384) Birth Date: 11/04/1916; Death Date: 02/19/1945; Interment Date: 04/20/1948", "Raritan Public Library "Basilone Room"Gy/Sgt John Basilone ribbons", "SCR 25 Gunnery Sergeant John Basilone Memorial Freeway", "company-c-fights-up-hill-battle-basilones-challenge", "Honoring One Marine To Remember Them All: WWII Hero Gets Plaque at Navy Memorial", "Raritan to honor its fallen son with 33rd Annual John Basilone Memorial Parade", "Raritan's World War II hero John Basilone inducted into NJ Hall of Fame", "JOHN BASILONE Historical Raritan (19161945)", Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, "John Basilone's Medal of Honor Ceremony remembered by Marine Sidney Phillips", United States Marine Corps History Division Gunnery Sergeant John Basilone Biography, Medal of Honor Recipients Depicted in Film, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=John_Basilone&oldid=1140815348, An entry point onto Camp Pendleton from US, US Interstate 5 from the San Diego County line to Camp Pendleton to the south is called "Gunnery Sergeant John Basilone Memorial Highway", In 1944, Army Barracks from Washington state were moved to a site in front of. It was there that John died, in an exchange of heavy gunfire on the island of Iwo Jima. My uncles are marine and Navy vets as well as my two brothers who are Marines. My dad was a medic on Peleliu. Leatherneck November 1988. i know in the movie she went to visit his parents. 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. I caught heck from Mom for not writing. offspring chris havel wife; airigh 'n eilean; ontario bar exam results 2020. project zomboid ham radio frequencies; gunton hall rooms; kauai hotels kama'aina rate 2021; mary katherine backstrom net worth 2020; blackstone managing director salary. Lena and John fall in love and were married on July 10, 1944. It was great. My father was a medic,like me. Hi Mike or Major Pain. Larry, Thanks for doing what you are doing this. The Japanese charged the hill relentlessly, with dead Japanese soldiers serving as human bridges so that their remaining comrades could cross over the barbed wire fences near the American perimeter. I did some time on Dustoff and later did almost 5 years total. I would think she should be buried beside John Basilone., I think Arlington has different requirements from other cemeteries. Take care, SSG RickDoc Borenstein,US Army Medical Dept, (ret). Legacy. Consistently daring and aggressive as he fought his way over the battle-torn beach and up the sloping, gun-studded terraces toward Airfield Number 1, he repeatedly exposed himself to the blasting fury of exploding shells and later in the day coolly proceeded to the aid of a friendly tank which had been trapped in an enemy mine field under intense mortar and artillery barrages, skillfully guiding the heavy vehicle over the hazardous terrain to safety, despite the overwhelming volume of hostile fire. 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. or what its supposed to be. Grave 384, grid Y/Z 23.5. Regards, SSg Rick Doc Borenstein ret, US Army Medical Dept. Sergeant John Basilone's legacy is one of the most expansive and visible in Marine Corps history. I also had the chance to tell her about Sgt. Age: 86 (3/7/1913 - 6/11/1999) Lena Mae Basilone's Relationships (1) Check out our New "Top 10 Worst . He served as a medic like I did and later became a doctor. The Marines and Army suffered over 10000 casualities.. Just yesterday I was riding the bus in Portland, Oregon, when a woman boarded with her walker. A piece of their son to cling to , to assuage their pain . My uncle, A surgeon eventually took care off me and it worked good. I guess being a diabetic with a full ankle replacement i would just be more of a problem for the military rather than a help. They were legendary icons and did their duties beyond what was required of them. Gotta gp get em.,during a hail of gunfire.Later in other conflicts it was knowledge I definitely needed and used, as it save my life. I felt both sides descended in to a hell that was what unimaginable to the human mind. I knew of only one other like her,Terry Murphy Audie Murphys wife.,he died in 1971. . Lena was the same kind of a Marine too. I have had 7 combat campaigns to boot too Lena was not not much for publicity and kept a low profile. Despite their supply lines having been cut off by enemies who had infiltrated into the rear, Basilone fought through hostile ground to resupply his heavy machine gunners with urgently needed supplies. My mom had me and cousins who served over the years in the US and Israeli military. Im such a fan my brother bought me a John Basilone t shirt. However, I was impressed by the story of Lena and John Basilone. I have seen what they went through and it mirrors my own combat experiences,5 deployments worth.since 1991 to 2007.Lena Basilone and John were my heros and did their jobs to what they knew was their best. Semper Fi. I also wish to convey my condolences to you about your father. Then, John marries this stranger and he focuses on her instead of the family.My opinion is they were terribly jealous of her and blamed her for taking away their son and brother. I too believe that a great degree of focus should have been given to Lena. Having Served 21 years of Active Duty from 1970 to 1992. WowI just started reading Im Staying With My Boys, the book about her husband. Lena's obituary notes that she never remarried and was buried still wearing . 1939. Also, just as deeply in awe of Johns heroism, his ultimate sacrifice, and Lenas continued devotion to him for over 50 years. Memorial day is coming upon us fast and its time to remember those we lost, and those who gave back much to veterans as did Lena. He was offered a commission, which he turned down, and was later offered an assignment as an instructor, but refused this as well. they have only received veterans status within the last 15-20 years. Her love and bond so strong that she stayed single over 50 years. Chuck Tatum who survived Iwo Jima. He spoke very little about it. She responded that she had served as a Marine in the early 70s. He went to recruit training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, followed by training at Marine Corps Base Quantico and New River. From what Ive read they gained a lot of prestige. Instead, Iwo Jima turned out to be a life raft. Regards, SSG, Rick R. Doc Borenstein. Shrewdly gauging the tactical situation shortly after landing when his company's advance was held up by the concentrated fire of a heavily fortified Japanese blockhouse, Gunnery Sergeant BASILONE boldly defied the smashing bombardment of heavy caliber fire to work his way around the flank and up to a position directly on top of the blockhouse and then, attacking with grenades and demolitions, single handedly destroyed the entire hostile strong point and its defending garrison. The Lena I knew would rather be buried where she was because she didnt seek the limelight and wanted to live a quiet life. May they both rest in peace and live on in the history they helped write. She was a patriotic American to the core!! She had a U.S. Marine Corps sign on the walker, so I asked her if she was a Marine. Lena did not have John very long, in fact 7 months. I have found that the movie industry gets some aspects of Lenas actual life facts wrong. Virginia Grey dated John Basilone in the past, but they have since broken up. Their bomber was called Cabin In the sky. Basilone's wife, Lena Mae, never remarried. His relatives basked in his reflected glory due to his MOH and widely reported heroism. (Thats my VietNam). My dad was in the Pacific on Guam, the Marshalls and Peleliu. The Death of "Manila John" Basilone. John Basilone's relationship with Lena Mae Basilone ended when John Basilone died on February 19, 1945. I got a lot of insights on it from my high school teachers who fought as Marines in the Pacific. We were both combat medics and had extra duties our units needed including water purification and distribution. Dear Barbara Garner, 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. If the name does not sound familiar, you may recognize her married name: Basilone. I feel pontoon bridges which were being built during and after the first weakening of the main bridge should have mandated use of the pontoon bridges to save engineers lives. G-d keep us always in palm of your hand and love us always. 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. John Basilone was born to be a United States Marine. I wished he didnt go back to war but he was truly a hero and great marine. Once in a while, I add a friends name to it. Your right Marie. Many, including Virginia herself, expected them to marry . America was so much better i am sure. Hair nets are an essential thing for mess hall personnel as I have been a Mess hall inspector as part of medic duties. What an amazing lady. Required fields are marked *. My biggest campaigns was Korea in the 70s, Desert Storm,(2 tours) Bosnia, and Iraq. I know that she and her husband are together today as they have been since her death. John Basilone's Grave. In a fierce frontal attack with the Japanese blasting his guns with grenades and mortar fire, one of Sgt. Lena served an important role though,giving the soldier good chow was a morale booster. Military units comprising the Defense CBRN Response Force (DCRF) participated in Exercis []. And I hope that in some small way I brought joy to her life, I know she enriched mine ! 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. The other person that helped vets in the LA area was Audie L Murphys wife, Terry. Hi Sabrina, did you ever write about Sgt Lena Basilone? Regardless of whether Basilone's ability was real or imagined, what matters is that he believed it, making his request for orders to the fleet and his actions on Iwo Jima all the more astounding. Thank you Barbara Garner for your detailed comments about the wonderful Lena, and how you tried to get her to agree to be buried near her husband. Megan. , Brad Garrett Wife Height, Is A Mobile Home Considered Real Property In Florida, Animated Music Videos . Basilone, a member of the U.S. Marines, received the Congressional Medal of Honor for his action . She lived in California, worked for the electric company, and volunteered to serve in several organizations related to Marine. From her Find-A-Grave entry and her obituary: Lena Mae Riggi was born on March 7, 1913 in Portland, Oregon. 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. I have had female cousins who were excellent NCOs and officers.in the Israeli army.If it was not for Marines like Lena Basilone and John Basilone the marines would not be the organization they are today. Basilone, [] My family is most Army AF Navy and yes Marines. Fortunately, I have known a lot of Lenas who I served with. Thank you for your service as well as everyone who serves. I was so happy for them both when they got married. Thank you for your comments.My father and your fathers dedicated service in the Pacific will not be forgotten by me.The Basilones John and Lena were legends. They finally agreed to wife of Sgt.John Basilone. Marine's heroism gave him legendary status. Few veterans around the world have a system like and we can make it better. Lena was a very strong woman. I am proud to speak to a member of John and Lenas family, Hi Vera, are you a relative of SGT Basilone? 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. I sometimes wonder how my family members who fought on Peleliu,Okinawa, and Iwo Jima fought on an island cemetery,the constant artillery and mortar fire, and combat. Once again, Basilone would be leading Marines in combat with the Japanese as a machine gun section leader. I am a huge fan of hers and her husband. She had a very strong love for Gy.Sgt John Basilone even though their marriage was short,it was a very strong one. 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. We did our jobs and what were asked to do. Please call me and send your number. Thanks, Dave. What a debt we owe to that generation. They were married on July 7, 1944 and spent some time . I also remember my fallen comrades from high school, through Korea, Vietnam, Desert Storm Iraq and Afghanistan. I then years later caught the Gulf war, Korea, Bosnia and Iraq. I served 33 1/2 years from the Vietnam Era to Iraq.. John Basilone Section 12, Grave 384 Gunnery Sergeant John Basilone (1916-1945) was awarded the Medal of Honor for extraordinary heroism in combat at Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, in October 1942. I just watched HBO's The Pacific episode 7, it was great, tons of action. He was shot down over the Isle de Olerun in southern france,on thwway to plaster German airfields 3 months before Normandy, he fell on 3-27-44. People can see the war in the Pacific through the eyes of the Marines clearly.This is something cant be avoided or entered into withtout thought as to what can happen Respectfully.SSG RickDocBorenstein(Retired) combat Medic. Leave a sympathy message to the family on the memorial page of John R Basilone to pay them a last tribute. I am confident that they have been reunited and are now able to enjoy the chance to be together forever that the war took away from them. 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. While stationed at Camp Pendleton, he met his future wife, Lena Mae Riggi, who was a Sergeant in the Marine Corps Women's Reserve. Lena too lived a life of service Helping many veterans. My intrest was to watch what my two Uncles had gone through as they were in all those battles amongst all the Marines. 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. Ive met only recently the story of John Basilone and now, thanks to your words, even a little of the life of Lena. Gracias, amiga! MY dad was attached to Geigers Marines with the US Army because he did water purification,ran a medical lab in addition to his ground duties. I wish i could have known her. SSG RickDoc Borenstein US Army (Ret). Brother & Sister. Its great to learn more about the people behind the name. "They weren't even men anymore. Hello All: For his actions during the battle, Basilone received the United States military's highest award for valor, the Medal of Honor.