MARINE OF THE WEEK // BADASS BASILONE:
GySgt. John Basilone
1st Battalion, 7th Marines
Guadalcanal, Oct. 24-25, 1942
Award: Medal of Honor
“While the enemy was hammering at the Marines’ defensive positions, Sgt. Basilone, in charge of 2 sections of heavy machineguns, 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 Sgt. Basilone’s sections, with its gun crews, was put out of action, leaving only two 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, Sgt. Basilone, 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.” (Illustration by Cpl. Elize McKelvey)
How can you not be inspired by Sgt.Basilone! Thank you Sgt. Grit for our weekly reminder of our lineage! It’s inspiring and a good reminder that our freedoms were paid with the blood and sacrifice of others, lest we forget! And I give thanks for my freedoms!
These men are part of a generation that fought the very thing that are country is slowly becoming “Socialist” My Dad and many others did not fight the Imperial Japan and Nazi Germany so we could become a socialist country, that’s not who we are!! Bill 0331
I agree with both of you men about our country Semper-Fi
I absolutely concur on the direction our country is taking. Today it is a great deal different then when I took my oath in 1951 to go to Korea, and when I transferred FMCR in 1977. I never saw a termination date on my oath, only on the enlistment contracts. I do believe that my oath is still in effect. Anybody agree?? Mustang USMC, 1951 to 1977.
You are 100% accurate on this validation of the oath we took.
Semper Fi
I recall Basilone Rd at Camp Pendleton well. Unfortunate that I only learned about him long after my time had passed. Keep up the Great Work!
Bruce
1st Platoon Golf company 2nd Battlation 5th Marines 1975.
I was in boot camp at Paris Island when the US embassy was evacuated for the last time.
The same people who protested the war and insulted returning troops in the 1960′ & 1970’s now have their grand children who are protesters and rioters who want socialism in the US. When mayors and governors tell the police to stand down and very few rioters are arrested. It’s time for all voters to think all about that before casting a ballot.
Most Baby Boomers remember the SDS and other groups like them.
The rioters want to change our country because they know no other country would put up with this. The body count of rioters if it was in Red China would be two or three times the amount of Covid-19 deathes.
Protests are one thing but I never learned that rioters are free to destroy whatever they want and are protected by the US constitution from going to jail.
I always thought that our citizens are the ones who should have their property and lives protected by the local government and city, county and state police.
I retired and thought it would be the same type of country as it was for the last 50 years
we’ve always had a few bad apples but to just let them do whatever they want I will never understand
What we need is to defund the rioters and criminals when you put hand cuffs on the police it won’t work.
How many US citizens will die when and if we defund police departments ?
I don’t want to use my true name to protect my family.
It’s sad to see this country being shaken apart by a handful of spoiled children, led and financed by Marxists and Socialists. A lot of us older Marines would be willing to be Federalized and help clean up this mess. Mark 0311.
Unfortunately he was killed in action on Iwo Jima. He didn’t have to return to combat and could toured on bond drives stateside. Thats called Double HERO.
I read he WAS offered stint doing war bond drives, turned it down. Then offered a job as a recruiter, turned it down. Then offered a job as a Drill Instructor, turned it down. When asked WHAT he DID want, he replied, “To go back and be with MY GUYS!”
Superhero!!
A friend of mine (a two-war Marine) as a boot private joined the 1stMarDiv in Australia after they were relieved from Guadalcanal. He was in a different company from Sgt Basilone, but learned of his exploits while training on his machine guns. He always described Sgt Basilone as just a nice, regular guy who did his job with dedication.