You are correct SGTKITE, John Basilone's tombstone is correct it reads Gy Sgt. Lena Basilone honorably discharged from the Marine Corps as a sergeant. For the next seven months, they made the best of their time together before Basilone left for Iwo Jima with his regiment. Leave a sympathy message to the family on the memorial page of John R Basilone to pay them a last tribute. Basilone enlisted in the United States Army in July 1934 and completed his three-year enlistment with service in the Philippines, where he was a champion boxer. Sorry! During Women's History Month, today's Veteran Of The Day is Marine Corps Veteran Lena Basilone, who served during World War II. His record of earning five Navy Crosses for valor has never been matched, nor has his place in Marine Corps history as one of the finest combat officers ever. The (newer generation of) Marines dont know who he was, said Frank Turiace, former U.S. Marine Corps Staff Sergeant and decorated Korean War veteran, wanted to change that, With the help of state Sen. Bill Murrow, Turiace set out on a mission to make sure that John is never forgotten. He (Murrow) was very instrumental in putting this through he has the connections, said Turiace. John liked Lena for her tough attitude and self-assured nature. They were married on July 7, 1944 and spent some time together before John returned to the South Pacific. At least I wanted a few days, or weeks if I could get it, to know what it was like to be married. Henoch Kornfeld-His only crime he was a Jewish child. Lena Basilone, former Marine, tireless volunteer and wife of Americas first Word War II Medal of Honor recipient, died Friday. He received the Medal of Honor for heroism above and beyond the call of duty during the Battle of Guadalcanal and the Navy Cross posthumously for extraordinary heroism during the Battle of Iwo Jima. He was deployed to Guantnamo Bay, Cuba, and in August 1942, he took part in the invasion of Guadalcanal. 0 cemeteries found in Riverside, Riverside County, California, USA. But before he left, a romance blossomed between him and Lena. She had declined the federal government's offer of a burial spot, near her husband's, at Arlington. In the mini series, he is portrayed as being shot through the chest and left arm and dying in pain. While stationed at Camp Pendleton, Basilone met his future wife, Lena Mae Riggi, who was a Sergeant in the Marine Corps Women's Reserve. (The plot is located at section 50, site 5557). Basilone did not give up, however, and he invited Lena to dinner at a fancy restaurant while training some recruits in the 5th Marine Division. Lena survived John by 54 years. As you can see he has been awarded four prestigious decorations for his work in combat operations: Airforce Achievement medal, Army Achievement medal, Navy and Marine Corps Me. He was famous. Copyright 2018 @ USS Basilone DDE/DD 824 Design & Developed by Buy Wordpress Templates, (November 4, 1916 February 19, 1945) was a. She purchased a home in Lakewood, California and lived there for over 50 years until her death. Learn more about merges. Lena Basilone. Just three days after Lenas death a resolution was passed naming a 17 mile stretch of the San Diego (I-5) Freeway near Camp Pendleton Gunnery Sergeant John Basilone Memorial Highway. He received the Medal of Honor for heroism above and beyond the call of duty during the Battle for Henderson Field in the Guadalcanal Campaign, and the Navy Cross posthumously for extraordinary heroism during the Battle of Iwo Jima. Her parents wanted her to settle down and get married, but instead, she enlisted in the Marines, and she was disowned by her father. Geni requires JavaScript! Unfortunately, Basilone was killed in action on Iwo Jima. Click the links below for more Prints, Posters, Drawings and Paintings! . The state with the most residents by this name is California, followed by DC and Georgia. 14 Feb 2019| During her time there she met John Basilone, a Marine and the first United States decorated World War II hero. Basilone passed away in June 1999 at the age of 86. She learned of his death less than a month later on her 32nd birthday and traveled to her husbands hometown of Raritan, New Jersey, to present his parents with his Medal of Honor. Previously sponsored memorials or famous memorials will not have this option. Lena's obituary notes that she never remarried and was buried still wearing her wedding ring. Episode 8 of the mini series features the US invasion of Iwo Jima where John Basilone died on the first day. This Valentines Day, take a step back to recognize these people and dont forget that time is the most precious gift you could give them, An official website of the United States government, Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil. The man was Joe Galloway and I was honored to be present in 1998 when he received a Bronze Star with V device for his actions under fire during the 1965 Battle of Ia Drang - Wikipedia in Vietnam. Lena christens the USS Basilone after John's death. Basilone worked as a golf caddy for the local country club before joining the military. In 21 Dec 1945 Lena christened a Navy destroyer ship named the USS Basilone in her husband's honor. He loved his country and he loved the brothers who fought by his side. If you have questions, please contact [emailprotected]. He and his fellow Marines were heading for the Battle of Iwo Jima. #VeteranOfTheDay Marine Corps Veteran Lena Basilone VAntagePoint Contributor 2022-03-28T14:07:18-04:00 March 29th, 2022 | #VeteranOfTheDay Navy Veteran Barbara Allen Rainey When he requested again to return to the war, the request was approved. VAs #VeteranOfTheDay social media feature is an opportunity to highlight your Veteran and his/her service. Basilone passed away in June 1999 at the age of 86. Quickly see who the memorial is for and when they lived and died and where they are buried. He has received many honors including being the namesake for streets, military locations, and two United States Navy destroyers. During World War II she enlisted in the Marine Corps. I nodded and she might have nodded, or not, but she wasn't falling all over herself, to get to know me. 1940 194210 . When she reached adulthood she left Oregon to attend business school. According to the funeral . Years later, the city of Raritan, N J. erected a statue in his honor. She worked for an electrical company after leaving the military. Look for word matches in books, stories & newspapers, etc. The email does not appear to be a valid email address. Edit Search New Search Filters (1) To get better results, add more information such as Birth Info, Death Info and Locationeven a guess will help. When she saw me again she pretended like no one else told her a thing about me and that was just the way I liked it." But the cynicism did not last, and Lena and John married in the summer of 1944: She was 86. Our Locations . Her attitude was I can do anything they (men) can do. . He later returned to the U.S. to help raise funds for bond drives. A homemaker, Nina enjoyed gardening and especially cooking eggplant parmesan, roasted red peppers and homemade tomato sauce . GREAT NEWS! Lena Basilone. John Basilone (November 4, 1916 February 19, 1945) was a United States Marine Corps gunnery sergeant who was killed in action during World War II. Lena Mae Riggi was born March 7, 1916 in Portland, Ore. to Italian Sicilian immigrants. Sister of James Riggi; Peter Riggi; Francis / Frank Riggi; Samuel Riggi and Paul Riggi. Use Escape keyboard button or the Close button to close the carousel. When WWII broke out, she found herself enlisted in the Marine Corps, stationed at Camp Pendleton. Lena Mae Riggi was born on March 7, 1913 in Portland, Oregon. Possible relatives for Lena Basilone include Lawrence Taylor, Joshua Rawley and Tanisha Taylor. Her fellow female Marines fawned over Basilone and his heroism but she wasnt impressed. She soon dedicated a destroyer called the USS Basilone to the Navy. After John Basilone arrived at Camp Pendleton, where he trained Marines for upcoming Pacific battles, he met Lena Riggi. Although the romance was a whirlwind and the conditions were not ideal, the two seemed destined for a life together. Instead, she is interred at Riverside National Cemetery, Plot 50 0 5557 in Riverside, California. Do you want to light up the face of a special Veteran? He received a Medal of Honor for successfully defending Henderson Field against the Japanese in October 1942. I told her, 'I'm coming back,' and she believed me." Answer (1 of 9): I know of one civilian who received a military award for bravery. Signed, Linda Riggi. In October 1942, during the Battle for Henderson Field, his unit came under attack by a regiment of about 3,000 soldiers from the Japanese Sendai Division. Black hair, dark eyes, and she walked around like she owned the place At first it was just a look between us. John R Basilone Obituary. Unfortunately for those of you who hoped she was still alive, the following photo is a scan of her obituary. I wanted to know how it was to love somebody the way Pop loved Mama, Basilone admitted in James Bradys book Hero of the Pacific . Those left to cherish his memory are his loving wife of 26 years, Teresa; sons, Anthony Carmelo Basilone, Mario Joseph Basilone, b Lieutenant Commander, USN (Ret.) Lena Mae Basilone, USMC(WR), widow of John Basilone, prepares to christen the destroyer USS Basilone (December 21, 1945) In February of 1945, Gunnery Sergeant John Basilone was back in the Pacific with the 5 th Marine Division, part of the invasion force for the invasion of Iwo Jima, known by the military code name Operation Detachment . Riggi waited for the gossips to tire themselves out, looked at them and said, 'So what?' They honeymooned at an onion farm near Portland, Oregon. He was the only enlisted Marine to receive both of these decorations in World War II. Anyway it looks like John and Lena Basilone meet and fall in love during episode 8. . Lena never remarried and she lived in California until her death in 1999. (Brady, quoting Basilone in Hero of the Pacific, page 165.). When the last of it ran out shortly before dawn on the second day, Basilone, using his pistol and a machete, held off the Japanese soldiers attacking his position. cemeteries found within kilometers of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. When information is received regarding burial, you will be notified. Failed to remove flower. During a heavy enemy attack in Guadalcanal, Basilone and his men defeated thousands of Japanese troops while he single-handedly repaired and manned multiple machine guns and risked his life running through enemy lines to retrieve critical ammunition. If you want to learn more about John and Lena Basilone, watch the superb miniseries "The Pacific." Some time ago, I met an elderly man. them are Veterans themselves. 213 Likes, TikTok video from Lena Basilone (@lenabasilone): "The next DIY project in my forever home kitchen remodel. It is with great sadness that we announce the death of John R Basilone of Pemberton, New Jersey, who passed away on February 5, 2023, at the age of 66, leaving to mourn family and friends. Resend Activation Email. A lock ( She learned of his death less than a month later on her 32nd birthday and traveled to her husbands hometown of Raritan, New Jersey, to present his parents with his Medal of Honor. Sergeant Lena Mae Basilone, USMC(WR), ship's sponsor, prepares to christen the destroyer, at the Consolidated Steel Company Shipyard, Orange, Texas, on 21 December 1945. It wasn't easy to balance their different schedules, yet John was determined to marry Lena before he returned to the Pacific: "I wanted to know how it was to love somebody the way Pop loved Mama. The sponsor of a memorial may add an additional. It was he who'd been John's commanding officer at Guadalcanal. From her Find-A-Grave entry and her obituary: Lena Mae Riggi was born on March 7, 1913 in Portland, Oregon. His five older siblings were born in Raritan, New Jersey, before the family moved to Buffalo when John was born; they returned to Raritan in 1918. Leave your condolences to the family on this memorial page or send flowers to show you care. Wearing the chevrons of a Sergeant, Lena would not see action in the Pacific Theatre due to being female, so she was limited to kitchen duties, however, that did not mean that she was any weaker in mindset as the male marines, as John Basilone found out the hard way when they first met. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/334448/lena-mae-basilone. John Basilone's Headstone in Arlington National Cemetery. We will review the memorials and decide if they should be merged. During the fighting on Guadalcanal in October 1942, Basilone's actions would result in him being awarded the Medal of Honor. USMCWR, Transforming pain through paint, Tech Picasso leaves traumatic memories behind, CPL. He is often discussed in Marine Corps history classes but no one ever mentions that his wife was a Marine too. It was there that John died, in an exchange of heavy gunfire on the island of Iwo Jima. Very sad, but it makes a person understand what their generation went through. John Basilone was both a lover and a fighter. And she was a sergeant, the rules against fraternizing [with enlisted female personnel] didn't apply." She is buried at Riverside National Cemetery in California; her husband John is buried in Arlington National Cemetery. Close this window, and upload the photo(s) again. That day he and the Corps formed a bond that would forever link them together in history. Basilone grew up in the nearby Raritan Town (now Borough of Raritan) where he attended St. Bernard Parochial School. No animated GIFs, photos with additional graphics (borders, embellishments. He then fought his way toward Airfield Number 1 and aided a Marine tank that was trapped in an enemy mine field under intense mortar and artillery barrages. Lena Basilone returns her late husband's Medal of Honor to his family.From HBO's "The Pacific", episode 10 of 10. I nodded and she might have nodded, or not, but she wasnt falling over herself to get to know me. In 1943, Basilone returned to the United States and participated in war bond tours. PAUL IPPOLITO SUMMIT MEMORIAL 7 Summit Ave Summit, NJ 07901 Phone: (908) 273-1367 Andrea Ippolito, Mgr. Despite their supply lines' having been cut off by enemies in the rear, Basilone fought through hostile ground to resupply his heavy machine gunners with urgently needed ammunition. She purchased a home in Lakewood, California and lived there for over 50 years until her death. During Womens History Month, todays #VeteranOfTheDay is Marine Corps Veteran Lena Basilone, who served during World War II. She was a volunteer for several Veterans organizations such as the Long Beach Veterans Hospital, American Veterans Auxiliary and Women Marines Association. WORLD WAR II, EIGHTIES, MUSIC, HISTORY, HOLOCAUST. When she reached adulthood she left Oregon to attend business school. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Try again later. . To view a photo in more detail or edit captions for photos you added, click the photo to open the photo viewer. She was also a Marine sergeant (albeit reservist) who had one less stripe than John. Create New. He was killed on February 19, 1945 in an exchange of heavy gunfire on Iwo Jima. John Basilone is a Marine Corps legend. She served as a field cook (on the base), and her title was Sergeant, said Barbara Garner, longtime friend and roommate. God bless Sgt. Basilone asked Lena out, but knowing his celebrity status, she refused. "She held up pretty well while we talked. All Death, Burial, Cemetery & Obituaries results for Lena Basilone. Their wedding took place at St. Mary's Church in. Please accept my heartfelt sympathy. This stretch (of highway) is to honor John and Lena. Although the federal government offered to bury Lena in Arlington National Cemetery near her husband, she refused because she didnt want to cause trouble for everyone. Services are set for 2 p.m. Wednesday at Hunter Perez Mortuary, 5443 Long Beach Blvd. On February 19, 1945, the first day of invasion of Iwo Jima, he was serving as a machine gun section leader on Red Beach II. Falling in love with Lena Riggi, Basilone realized he would likely leave Pendelton sometime during the late summer of 1944. Beloved wife of the late Jim for 63 years, dearest mother of Mary Jane Turner (Bill), Janice Hundt (Jeff), Joan Hamilton (Dan), Michael Born on November 4, 1916 in Ruritan, New Jersey, Basilone was the six of ten children in an Italian family and would grow up as a tough young man.Just before his 18th birthday, Basilone enlisted in the U.S. Army and served in the Philippines as an infantryman from 1934 to 1937.He would become known as "Manila John" due to his Army service in the Philippines. Verify and try again. Please complete the captcha to let us know you are a real person. 2.5K Likes, 26 Comments. On Dec. 21, 1945, Basilone attended the christening ceremony of the Navy destroyer USS Basilone, named in her husbands honor. The Marine Corps denied his request and told him he was needed more on the home front. Teagan Fredericks In October, he and two other Marines used machine guns to hold off an attack by a far numerically superior Japanese force. Basilone's mother, Dora Bencivenga, was born in 1889 and grew up in Manville, New Jersey, but her parents, Carlo and Catrina, also came from Benevento. John and Lena seemingly fell in love overnight. During World War II she enlisted in the Marine Corps. Thanks for using Find a Grave, if you have any feedback we would love to hear from you. 201055 ^ "Presidential Unit Citation on . Marine Sergeant Lena Basilone was the wife of Medal of Honor winner John Basilone.