SERGEANT JOHN BASILONE (USMC) 28TH ANNUAL MEMORIAL PARADE RARITAN NJ (PART 1)

http://www.basiloneparade.com/

In August of 1942, (10 months into World War II for the U.S.) his group was sent to the island of Guadalcanal. The U.S. and Japanese were battling for the island The U.S. had secured an important airstrip Henderson Field which the Japanese were determined to take. The Marines had only a fraction of the troops compared to the Japanese. Only a single U.S. Battalion stood between the readying Japanese Division and Henderson field. John Basilone was in charge of 16 men. They set up a defensive position with 4 heavy machine guns in front of Henderson Field. On October 24th, the Japanese launched a massive attack. John set the strategy for his unit. He told his men to let the enemy get within 30 yards and then let them have it. They fired at the first group of attacking Japanese, successfully wiping them out. This first charge was only the beginning of the overall enemy attack. They charged several more times. Eventually this attack took its toll. John, while manning the left two machine guns, heard a loud explosion come from the right setup of the machine guns. Moments later, one soldier from the right side crawled over and informed him that both right guns were knocked out and that the crew was all dead or injured. John knew he had to get to the knocked out guns to see if he could get them working. The first gun was beyond repair, but the second gun had a chance. There was no light to aid in examining the damaged gun. John would have to troubleshoot the problem in the dark, by feeling the parts to find out what was causing the gun not to fire. John quickly had the gun working again. As soon as it was back in action, the enemy charged. With the extra gun now working, Basilone and his unit easily beat back the Japanese attack. The attacks kept coming. John told two of his remaining soldiers to keep the heavy machine guns loaded. John would roll to one machine gun and fire until it was empty, then roll over to the other one that had been loaded while he was firing the first one. At about 3 AM they were almost out of ammunition. The Marines had stored ammunition about 100 yards away. However, this would be a difficult 100 yards. There were enemy troops on both the sides and behind their position. John ran and crawled through the jungle. Bullets flew off over his head and grenades exploded around him. But he continued and made it to the ammo dump. John threw six heavy cartridge belts over his soldier. As he started back to his men, bullets were whizzing all around him again. But he made it back and soon he found another challenge. One machine gun had been smashed. John took parts from another knocked out gun and fixed it quickly. Later in the night, the ammunition ran low again. John would need to go for more, but this time it would be to another ammunition dump, 600 yards away. Once again the Japanese threw everything at him, but he snaked through the grass well enough so that the Japanese could not find a clear target. John made it back with the much needed ammunition which held off the enemy attacks. Finally the attacks ended around sunrise. The daylight revealed a scene of utter carnage on the ground. Hundreds of bodies laid dead in front of the American positions, In fact, the entire Japanese regiment, around 3000 men, had been annihilated. On this night of October 24th, and 25th the U.S. had turned the tide of the war and the previously undefeated Japanese were on their way to defeat. For his heroics that night John was awarded The Congressional Medal of Honor.


John Basilone remains the only soldier (non-officer) in U.S. history to be awarded both The Congressional Medal of Honor and The Navy Cross. He is also the only Medal of Honor winner to go back into combat and be killed in combat.


Please click on the website above to read the full biography
of this great American hero Sergeant John Basilone.

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[MarDetgrunt]

Thank you so much for this grat vid. As a fromer US Marine it warms my heart to see a great American and Marine honored as such today. God bless you and keep up the GREAT work. Semper Fi

[ConservativeVoiceUSA]

Your welcome, sir. Thank you very much for your service to our great country. Happy Veterans Day

[checotahkid]

SEMPER FI, just a question, there is man who is CMH Recipient from Ohio, name Anthony Stein, I thought he had woon his CMH then went back into combat and was killed @ Jima Volcano Island. I am probably wrong, but from what I was told, I thought he was one of the few that went back into combat.

[ConservativeVoiceUSA]

Part 3: He continued to employ the stinger, tho it was shot out of his hands twice.

On the evening of D + 2, he was wounded by shrapnel, self-evac'd to the beach, and was back in the line 3 days later.

1 March (D + 10), Capt Wilkins of A Co asked for volunteers to flank Japanese positions that looked down on 1st and 2nd Battalions on 362A.

[ConservativeVoiceUSA]

Part 4: Tony Stein went, and along with Captain Aaron G. Wilkins and 13 other men, fell without taking the ridges. For his actions on D-day, Tony Stein was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor, posthumously.

[ConservativeVoiceUSA]

checotahkid: We can never thank those who put their lives on the line for us and our great country enough. Those that have paid the Ultimate Sacrifice must always be remembered. The kids in school should have to take a class in High School and learn about those that have protected our lives and freedom and brought freedom to countless millions of others around the world.

[SHADOWCOMPANY1]

Thanks Lonnie, I'd heard about this Brave man before. You have done him a great service to honor his name and achievements.

Keep Up The Great Work For all of US who can't.

[Lizardking623]

Semper Fi.

[oyp567567]

Awsome vid Lonnie!! 5 stars!!

[Pookey57]

Great video Lonnie, thanks for sharing.

[ColJimQ]

5* Great!

[mcurren2004]

Thank God there are still some patriots left.  I sure wonder sometimes. Thank you so much for inviting me, Lonnie. Made my day! Mary

[googlexxxxxxx]

semper fidelis

[ScarlettKnights]

Very nice!