Death Before Dishonor: Gunnery Sergeant John Basilone

On November 4, 1916, in Buffalo, New York, one of the most valiant Marines in history was born. John Basilone was born as the sixth among ten kids from an Italian immigrant family. From a young age, Basilone yearned for something more than just the confinements of a classroom. So he dropped out at fifteen and became a caddy at a local country club. He later told his parents that he wanted an adventure, so in July 1934 once he turned 18, Basilone decided to join the United States Army. 

He was assigned to the 16th Infantry, then the 31st Infantry where he was deployed to the Philippines for three years. During his time in the Philippines, he became a champion boxer. Once he was released from active duty he went to Reisterstown, Maryland where he hopped from job to job, but landed at driving trucks. After a few years at home, he wanted to return to the Philippines and he felt the best way to accomplish that was through the Marine Corps.

In 1940 Basilone enlisted in the Marine Corps and was sent to Parris Island for training. Following his training he was sent to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba for his first assignment. Then he was sent to Guadalcanal which is a part of the Solomon Islands. He was assigned to D Company, 1st Battalion, 7 Marines, 1st Marine Division. Guadalcanal was the first land campaign against the Japanese during WWII, which was very important because the prior 9 months the Japanese were taking these islands with no real resistance.

The Marines and Japanese fought relentlessly for months, this was when the United States learned that the Japanese would rather die than “dishonor their nation.” In late October 1942, Stg Basilone commanded two heavy .30-caliber machine guns during the battle for Henderson Field. His unit came under attack by a Japanese regiment of about 3,000 soldiers. After holding their position for three days against the 3,000 Japanese who used grenades, machine guns, and mortars to attack their position. Wave after wave was attacking their positions but continuously failed. Until one of the gun crews got disabled from enemy fire. Without hesitation, Basilone ran 200 yards through enemy fire carrying 90 pounds of equipment while killing Japanese along the way with his Colt .45 pistol, to resupply the downed gun pit. Basilone continued to run between gun pits to help resupply them and clear gun jams. During all the chaos, Basilone lost his asbestos gloves which are crucial for using the M1917A1 .30 caliber machine gun. 

Without the gloves, you wouldn’t be able to hold the blistering hot barrel. But as another wave of Japanese forces advanced on their position, without hesitation Basilone picked up the machine gun firing at the incoming enemy force and killing the whole wave. He completely burned his arm and hand in the process. 

After days of fighting, and only three Marines still alive, including Basilone. An entire Japanese regiment was stopped by these two machine gun nests. Basilone killed an estimated 38 Japanese soldiers with his machine gun, pistol, and machete. 

For his heroic actions, Basilone was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor. He was then sent home to help sell war bonds. However, this was not for him, and he declined a commission in Washington to get back in the fight. In February 1945 Basilone was sent to Iwo Jima where he stormed Red Beach. Leading a group of Marines through the heavy gunfire they got pinned down by a Japanese garrison. Basilone snuck around to the side of them and with grenades and demolitions, he single-handedly destroyed their blockhouse. While advancing to a local airfield, Basilone and four other Marines were killed by mortar and small arms fire. For his heroism on Iwo Jima, Basilone was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross. 

On John’s left arm was a tattoo that read "Death before Dishonor." This is something that he clearly lived by which led him to become one of the greatest Marines in history.