The Life and Death of "Manila John"

[thedrifter]

Story by William Douglas Lansford

If my only purpose were to resurrect a hero, to glorify him for posterity, I would start by saying that John Basilone had a sense of destiny. But this would be silly. He had no feeling of destiny. He was all here and now. No lofty speeches ever came from him to match his deeds, because he spoke directly in the "dem's" and "dose's" of a grade-school education romped through in New Jersey. He was a good boy, became a better man and eventually achieved greatness.

I first met Basilone after the balance of our war in the Pacific had shifted. A victorious Marine Corps (Guadalcanal, New Georgia, Bougainville, Tarawa) was adjusting to offensive tactics, which meant weapons like the .30-caliber machine gun. In 1944, after two years overseas with Carlson's Raiders, I was assigned to the newly formed Fifth Marine Division at Camp Pendleton, Calif., and it was there I learned that "Manila John" Basilone, Medal of Honor winner, would be our "gunny." By then, Basilone was already a legend to all Americans. It's a matter of record that a surprised first sergeant logged me in three days under my 30-day furlough?and it was worth every day.


http://www.mca-marines.org/Leatherneck/BasiloneArch.htm

Sempers,

Roger