First a profile of John Basilone, then past efforts
for a Stamp, now current efforts
to secure a stamp.
Gunnery Sergeant "Manila John" Basilone was the only enlisted Marine in World War II to receive the Purple Heart, the Navy Cross and the Medal of Honor.
John Basilone was born in 1916 in Buffalo, New York, one of 10 children of Salvatore and Dora Basilone. Reared and educated in Raritan, New Jersey, he gained local attention as a light-heavyweight boxer.
He enlisted in the Army when he was 18 and served in the Philippines, where he picked up the nickname "Manila John." He was honorably discharged in 1937, but, anticipating World War II, he enlisted in the Marines in July 1940.
On October 24-25, 1942, Sergeant Basilone was in charge of two sections of heavy machine guns defending a narrow pass to Henderson Airfield on Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands. Although vastly outnumbered, he and his fellow Marines checked the assault by the Japanese. For that, Sgt. Basilone was awarded the Medal of Honor and sent back to the states to appear at war-bond rallies. He toured the country and met Hollywood starlets. His picture made the cover of Life magazine.
But Sergeant Basilone was unsatisfied back home and
volunteered to return to combat, ending up at Iwo Jima. Under heavy artillery
fire on February 19, 1944, he
singlehandedly took out an enemy blockhouse. Minutes
later, he and four others in his platoon died in an artillery blast. Sergeant
Basilone was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross and Purple Heart, making
him the only enlisted Marine in World War II to receive all three medals.
John
Basilone, Gunnery Sergeant, United States Marine Corps
http://www.arlingtoncemetery.com/johnbasi.htm
The
Day I learned The Meaning Of Courage From The Colonel and the Gunny
http://www.grunt.com/couragestory.htm
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Representative Bill Pascrell Jr., New Jersey Democrat,
in 2001, with the assistance of Major Italian American Organizations
attempted to persuade the 13-member Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee
to issue a "Manila John" stamp.
Failing to get a positive response, Mr. Pascrell convinced 29 other House members to introduce a bill pressuring the Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee to recommend to the Postmaster General a stamp with Sergeant Basilone's picture on it.
It is not clear to me whether the bill failed to pass, or the bill passed, and the Postmaster General chose to ignore the bill.
Marine Corps League detachments and American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars halls across the nation have strongly supported the Stamp Request, and were sorely disappointed by the inaction.
Congressman Pascrell heartened by UNICO's recent Petition drive has been speaking with Senator Corzine's staff in preparation of reintroduction of the Basilone resolution Congressman Pascrell wrote two years ago.
An event in New Jersey will be planned to announce
the kickoff. The Congressman and Senator will joined by representatives
from Italian-American groups, and veterans and marine groups as well.
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For now, you can help by encouraging friends to
Sign The Basilone Petition.
THE PETITION CAN BE PRINTED FROM THE IAOV
SITE
Honor
a True Hero - Sgt. John Basilone
http://www.italianamericanonevoice.org/iabasilone.html
MAIL TO: Dr. Manny Alfano, Irving Terr. Bloomfield, NJ 07003
AS AN EASIER POSSIBLE ALTERNATIVE:
Clip and Paste the following two paragraphs into
an Email, and send to
Manny Alfano at << eaa097@aol.com >>
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To Whom it may Concern:
John Basilone is first ItalianAmerican in the history of the United States to win the two highest military honors: the Medal of Honor from the Marines and the Navy Cross for valor during the landing at Iwo Jima.
I respectfully request your serious consideration calling for a commemorative U.S. Postage stamp to honor Sgt. John Basilone, an American hero.
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