 Gunnery Sergeant John Bastalon, also known as one of the most badass marines in history. If you were to look in the dictionary, you'd probably see a picture of his face. But I digress. He was born in Buffalo, New York on November 4th, 1916, and was the sixth of ten children. At 18, Bastalon listed in the Army and did a short tour in the Philippines. He was given the nickname Manila John, named after the capital of the Philippines. Bastalon was discharged from the Army in 1937. In 1940, Bastalon enlisted in the Marine Corps because he felt it was his best shot to get back to the Philippines. Well, he got sent to Guantanamo Bay instead. Semper Gumby, right? He did get his chance to go back to the Pacific when he fought in the Guadalcanal Campaign with the 7th Marine Regiment. During the Second Battle of Henderson Field, Bastalon directed his men's fire, machine gun mostly by the feel of his hands because of low lighting. And according to his Medal of Honor citation, his efforts contributed and large measure to the virtual annihilation of a Japanese regiment. That's about 3,000 enemy soldiers. After receiving his Medal of Honor, Bastalon was sent back home to go on a war bond tour. By backing the attack and buying his war bond. But all he wanted was to be back in the fight with his men. After being denied a few times, John Bastalon finally got his chance when he was assigned to the 5th Marine Division for the invasion of Iwo Jima. While there, he received a Navy Cross for single-handedly destroying an entire hostile strong point and its defending garrisons with grenades and demolition. Bastalon became the only enlisted Marine during World War II to receive both the Medal of Honor and the Navy Cross. He gallantly gave his life for his country and was killed in action by enemy mortar fire, February 19, 1945. Ura.