John Basilone | Timeline

John Basilone (November 4, 1916 – February 19, 1945) was a United States Marine Corps Gunnery Sergeant who was killed in action during World War II. He received the Medal of Honor for heroism above and beyond the call of duty during the Battle of Guadalcanal 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. (Intro from Wikipedia)

November 4, 1916 - Buffalo, New York - John Basilone is born
January(?) 1(?), 1931 - Raritan, New Jersey - Finishes middle School at St.Bernard Parochial School
July 1(?), 1934 - Fort Jay, Governors Island - Enlists in the military - 16th Infantry Regiment
January(?) 1(?), 1937 - Philippines - Finishes is term of enlistment - 31st infantry regiment
April(?) 1(?), 1937 - Reiserstown, Maryland - Starts working as a truck driver
July 1(?), 1940 - Baltimore, Maryland - John Basilone enlists in the US Marines =(START)
January 1, 1941 - Guantanamo Bay, Cuba - Reactivation of the 7th Marines
August 28, 1941 - New River, North Carolina (Camp Lejeune) - "Chesty Puller" returns to the US and takes command of the 1st Battalion
April 2, 1942 - Norfolk, Virginia - The Regiment arrives in Norfolk by Train
April 10, 1942 - Norfolk - Regiment departs to the Pacific aboard the "USS Heywood", "McCawley", and "Fuller"
May 8, 1942 - Upolu, Samoa - The 7th Marines arrive in Samoa
June 14, 1942 - Wellington, New Zealand - Arrival in New Zealand with Major General Alexander Vandergrift
August 7, 1942 - Guadalcanal - Lands in Guadalcanal in Dog Company, 1st battalion, 7th Marine Rgt - 1st Marine Div
October 23, 1942 - Lunga Perimeter, Guadalcanal - The Japanese start atacking with overwhelming numerical superiority
October 25, 1942 - Lunga Perimeter, Guadalcanal - Battle for Henderson Field - Medal of Honor action 24/25 night
December 9, 1942 - Off Lunga Point, Guadalcanal - Transportships arrive in Guadalcanal and the 1st Marine Division embarks to Australia
December 14, 1942 - Brisbane, Australia - Arrival in Australia to rest and refit
January 10, 1943 - Brisbane - 9,000 marines embark to Melbourne
January 12, 1943 - Melbourne, Australia - Arrival in Melbourne
May 21, 1943 - Melbourne(?) - Basilone is awarded the Medal of Honor by General Vandegrift

Basilone with Medal of Honor

July 1(?), 1943 - Melbourne(?) - Basilone is informed that he is going home to sell bonds
September 3, 1943 - New York City - Basilone arrives in New York
September 6, 1943 - New York City - Basilone starts a bond tour in New York
September 9, 1943 - Newark, New Jersey - Bond Tour in Newark
September 10, 1943 - New Jersey - Bond Tour in New Jersey
September 18, 1943 - Scanton, Pennsylvania - Bond Tour in Scanton
September 19, 1943 - Raritan, New Jersey - Homecoming parade in his honor
December 6, 1943 - New York City - Bond Tour in New York - plans for Pearl Harbour aniversary
December 27, 1943 - New York City - Basilone departs to Camp Pendleton, California
January 13, 1944 - Camp Pendleton, California - Assigned to 21st Infantry Regiment of the newly formed 5th Marine Division
July 3, 1944 - Camp Pendleton - Reenlists in the Marine Corps
July 10, 1944 - Oceanside - John Basilone marries Lena Mae Riggi
August 11, 1944 - Camp Pendleton - After his Honeymoon, Basilone receives orders to ship out
December 24(?), 1944 - San Diego - John says goodbye to Lena, "just before Christmas"
January 12, 1945 - Off Pearl Harbour - All 5th Marine Division in exercises preparing for the next combat
January 27, 1945 - Camp Tarawa, Hilo, Hawaii - The division is shipped to Iwo Jima
February 5, 1945 - Eniwetok Atoll, Marshall Islands - The division arrives in Eniwetok and a Staff conference is held there
February 7, 1945 - Eniwetok Atoll - The convoy departs to Iwo Jima
February 11, 1945 - Saipan - The division arrives in Saipan. A rehearsal of the landing takes place two days later
February 16, 1945 - Saipan - The Convoy leaves Saipan for Iwo Jima
February 19, 1945 - Iwo Jima - John Basilone is killed on the 1st day of the battle of Iwo Jima =(END)