World War II Honoree

John Basilone

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

Buffalo, New York

Honored By

Ralph Bozorth

AWARDED THE CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR. SERGEANT, U.S. MARINE CORPS. BORN NOVEMBER 4, 1916, BUFFALO, NEW YORK. ACCREDITED TO: NEW JERSEY. OTHER NAVY AWARD: NAVY CROSS. 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 OCTOBER 24-25, 1942. WHILE THE ENEMY WAS HAMMERING AT THE MARINES' DEFENSIVE POSITIONS, HE, IN CHARGE OF 2 SECTIONS OF HEAVY MACHINE GUNS, FOUGHT VALIANTLY TO CHECK THE SAVAGE AND DETERMINED ASSAULT. IN A FIERCE FRONTAL ATTACK WITH THE JAPANESE BLASTING HIS GUNS WITH GRENADES AND MORTAR FIRE, ONE OF HIS SECTIONS, WITH ITS GUN CREWS, WAS PUT OUT OF ACTION, LEAVING ONLY 2 MEN ABLE TO CARRY ON. MOVING AN EXTRA GUN INTO POSITION, HE PLACED IT IN ACTION, THEN, UNDER CONTINUAL FIRE, REPAIRED ANOTHER AND PERSONALLY MANNED IT, GALLANTLY HOLDING HIS LINE UNTIL REPLACEMENTS ARRIVED. A LITTLE LATER, WITH AMMUNITION CRITICALLY LOW AND THE SUPPLY LINES CUT OFF, HE, AT GREAT RISK OF HIS LIFE AND IN THE FACE OF CONTINUED ENEMY ATTACK, BATTLED HIS WAY THROUGH HOSTILE LINES WITH URGENTLY NEEDED SHELLS FOR HIS GUNNERS, THEREBY CONTRIBUTING IN LARGE MEASURE TO THE VIRTUAL ANNIHILATION OF A JAPANESE REGIMENT. HIS GREAT PERSONAL VALOR AND COURAGEOUS INITIATIVE WERE IN KEEPING WITH THE HIGHEST TRADITIONS OF THE U.S. NAVAL SERVICE.