John Basilone: USMC Hero Machine Gunner


Medal of Honor and Navy Cross recipient

The story of John Basilone is right out of a Marvel Comic book, with the exception being his only super power was his bravery. During a Japanese attack on the Guadalcanal base in 1942, Basilone nearly single handedly repulsed the Japanese army for three days non stop. He defended his position with a machine gun including: fixing broken guns under fire, fighting through enemy lines for more ammo, and manning the machine gun for three days and nights without rest.He was awarded the Medal of Honor for this engagement. Only three men remained in his company as the others were killed. On the island of Iwo Jima, he single handedly destroyed a blockhouse machine gun nest with grenades. He then guided a tank through a minefield until he was shot and killed. He was awarded the Navy Cross for his bravery posthumously. He was offered a chance to raise bonds instead of fight but he elected to return to the Marine Corps on Iwo Jima where he was killed. What does that say about the man?

Hero all the way. Valor is in you. Set it free.

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