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  3. November
  4. 4
  5. John Basilone

Births on November 4

John Basilone
1916Nov, 4

John Basilone

John Basilone, American sergeant, Medal of Honor recipient (d. 1945)
John Basilone (November 4, 1916 – February 19, 1945) was a United States Marine Corps Gunnery Sergeant who 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. He was the only enlisted Marine to receive both of these decorations in World War II.

He enlisted in the Marine Corps on June 3, 1940, after serving three years in the United States Army with duty in the Philippines. He was deployed to Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, and in August 1942, he took part in the invasion of Guadalcanal. In October, he and the two machine gun sections under his command held off an attack by a far numerically superior Japanese force. He was one of only three Marines in that group to survive.

In February 1945, he was killed in action on the first day of the invasion of Iwo Jima, after he single-handedly destroyed an enemy blockhouse and led a Marine tank under fire safely through a minefield. He has received many honors, including having base streets, military facilities, and two United States Navy destroyers named for him.

References

  • John Basilone
  • Medal of Honor

Choose Another Date

Events on 1916

  • 9Jan

    Gallipoli Campaign

    World War I: The Battle of Gallipoli concludes with an Ottoman Empire victory when the last Allied forces are evacuated from the peninsula.
  • 21Feb

    Battle of Verdun

    World War I: In France, the Battle of Verdun begins.
  • 25Feb

    Battle of Verdun

    World War I: The Germans capture Fort Douaumont during the Battle of Verdun.
  • 9Apr

    Battle of Verdun

    World War I: The Battle of Verdun: German forces launch their third offensive of the battle.
  • 31May

    Battle of Jutland

    World War I: Battle of Jutland: The British Grand Fleet under the command of John Jellicoe, 1st Earl Jellicoe and David Beatty, 1st Earl Beatty engage the Imperial German Navy under the command of Reinhard Scheer and Franz von Hipper in the largest naval battle of the war, which proves indecisive.

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