november february united_states marine corps gunnery sergeant received nation highest military award medal honor heroism world war enlisted marine receive medal honor world war served years united_states_army duty philippines enlisted marine_corps deployed cuba held japanese troops member unit reduced men day killed action posthumously awarded extraordinary heroism received honors including namesake streets military locations united_states_navy destroyer early life born parents home november buffalo new_york sixth children siblings born new_jersey family living buffalo john born returned father emigrated province italy settled mother born grew new_jersey parents came parents met church gathering married years later grew nearby town borough attended completing middle school age dropped prior attending high school military service worked golf local country club joining military enlisted united_states_army july completed year service philippines champion boxer army initially assigned 16th infantry fort jay discharged day assigned 31st infantry released active duty returned home worked truck driver maryland driving trucks months wanted manila believed faster marines army enlisted marine_corps july baltimore maryland went recruit training followed training marines sent cuba assignment solomon islands member dog company 7th marines battle henderson field unit came attack regiment approximately soldiers october japanese forces began frontal attack machine guns grenades mortars american heavy machine guns commanded sections machine guns fought days marines left standing moved extra gun position maintained continual fire incoming japanese forces repaired manned machine gun holding defensive line replacements arrived battle went ammunition critically low despite supply lines having cut enemies rear fought hostile ground resupply heavy machine gunners needed ammunition ran shortly dawn second day held japanese soldiers attacking position pistol end engagement japanese forces opposite section line virtually annihilated actions battle received united_states military highest award medal honor private class north_carolina recalled battle machine gun days nights sleep rest food good causing japanese lots trouble firing machine gun pistol war bond tours marriage receiving medal honor returned united_states participated war bond tours arrival highly publicized hometown held parade honor returned homecoming parade occurred sunday september drew huge crowd thousands people including politicians celebrities national press parade national news life magazine parade toured country raising money war effort achieved celebrity status appreciated admiration felt place requested return operating forces fighting war marine_corps denied request told needed home offered commission turned later offered assignment instructor refused requested return war time request approved left camp california training december stationed camp met future wife sergeant married july reception hotel farm near portland request return fleet approved assigned invasion february serving machine gun section leader action japanese forces battle japanese concentrated fire incoming marines heavily fortified staged island unit pinned way japanese positions directly attacked grenades single destroying entire strong point defending garrison fought way airfield number aided marine tank trapped enemy field intense mortar artillery guided heavy vehicle hazardous terrain safety despite heavy weapons fire japanese moved edge airfield killed japanese mortar actions helped marines penetrate japanese defense landing beach critical early stages invasion posthumously awarded second highest decoration extraordinary heroism battle based research book mini series pacific author suggested killed mortar small arms fire hit right groin neck nearly took left arm burial interred arlington national cemetery section grave grid died june age buried california obituary notes remarried buried wearing wedding ring awards decorations military awards include medal honor citation medal honor citation reads follows president united_states congress takes pride presenting medal honor united states marine corps service set forth following citation extraordinary heroism conspicuous gallantry action enemy japanese forces duty serving 7th marines solomon islands october enemy marines defensive positions sgt charge sections heavy machine guns fought check savage determined assault fierce frontal attack japanese blasting guns grenades mortar fire sgt sections gun crews action leaving men able carry moving extra gun position placed action continual fire repaired personally manned holding line replacements arrived little later ammunition critically low supply lines cut sgt great risk life face continued enemy attack battled way hostile lines needed shells gunners contributing large measure virtual japanese regiment great personal courageous initiative keeping highest traditions franklin roosevelt citation reads follows president united_states takes pride presenting navy cross posthumously united states marine corps service set forth following citation extraordinary heroism serving leader machine gun section company 27th marines action enemy japanese forces february tactical situation shortly landing company advance held concentrated fire heavily fortified japanese defied smashing bombardment heavy caliber fire work way flank position directly attacking grenades single destroyed entire hostile strong point defending garrison consistently daring aggressive fought way battle torn beach sloping gun airfield number repeatedly exposed blasting fury exploding shells later day proceeded aid friendly tank trapped enemy field intense mortar artillery guiding heavy vehicle hazardous terrain safety despite overwhelming volume hostile fire forefront assault times pushed forward courage iron determination moving edge airfield fell instantly killed mortar shell initiative outstanding skill spirit self sacrifice face fanatic opposition contributed advance company early critical period assault devotion duty bitter conflict inspiration comrades reflects highest credit gave life service country president secretary navy honors received numerous honors including namesake united_states_navy destroyer postage stamp plaques monuments geographical landmarks bust san_diego named residential building inducted uss united_states navy commissioned uss class destroyer ship keel laid july orange texas launched december widow sponsored ship future uss john commissioned marine_corps buildings landmarks marine_corps named infrastructure including entry point base interstate called road section interstate running base called gunnery sergeant parachute landing zone called drop zone outside marine_corps addition honors bestowed marine_corps wide variety non military institutions chosen based include football field called field wall field mural honoring hometown named honor circle new_jersey highway goes bridge named new bridge crosses avenue memorial statue featuring holding water cooled machine gun located intersections canal street childhood friend sculpted statue plaque united_states navy memorial washington bust little italy san diego fir war memorial dedicated residents served world war korea area called order sons italy america lodge new_york named honor memorabilia kept moved site california rebuilt apartments returning development named site golf course parade memorial parade somerset street hometown held celebration close community media november issued distinguished marines stamps honoring marine_corps heroes including film fight features shanghai jack character based manila john pacific miniseries marines basis hbo miniseries pacific actor stars episode pbs documentary war burns film showed footage
John Basilone