Thanks to a character in the recent television series called &#;The Pacific&#;, the name of a female Marine has made an appearance on the pop culture radar: Lena Mae Riggi.
If the name does not sound familiar, you may recognize her married name: Basilone.
She was the wife of John Basilone, one of the famous Marines every Marine Corps recruit learns about at boot camp. He is often discussed in Marine Corps history classes but no one ever mentions that his wife was a Marine too.
The television show featured her as a significant character in the final episode: &#;The Pacific&#; Part 8: Iwo Jima:While he is training a company of recruits in the fine art of killing Japanese, Basilone meets Lena Riggi, a female Marine just turned 30 and cynical as hell about the advances of yet another lonely guy in uniform, especially a celebrity who can get the best tables at the nicest restaurants.
But the cynicism did not last, and Lena and John married in the summer of
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Not long after their wedding he shipped out to Iwo Jima and in February of he was killed in battle. This is where the television show concludes and unfortunately for curious viewers, the show apparently did not
MoH Recipient John Basilone Ran Headfirst Into Enemy Fire to Defeat the Japanese on Guadalcanal and Iwo Jima
There are few people in American history who are held in such high esteem as US Marine Corps Gunnery Sgt. John Basilone. A Medal of Honor recipient who distinguished himself in the Pacific Theater during the Second World War, he frequently put the wellbeing of his comrades ahead of his own, with his gallantry in battle later depicted in the HBO miniseries, The Pacific.
John Basilone initially served in the US Army
John Basilone was born on November 4, , in Buffalo, New York, as the sixth of 10 children. Growing up in Raritan Town, he attended school up to the age of 15, dropping out before beginning high school. He went on to work as a caddy at a local country club, before enlisting in the US Army.
Basilone was initially assigned to the 16th Infantry Regiment at Fort Jay, New York. After serving out his time, he was discharged, but lasted only one day as a civilian before re-enlisting. Assigned to the 31st Infantry Regiment, he and his comrades were sent to the Philippines, where he became known for his boxing abilities.
After three years in the Army, Basilone f
John Basilone Biography
John Basilone(November 4, – February 19, ) was a United States Marine Corpsgunnery 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 for Henderson Field in the Guadalcanal Campaign, 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.
He enlisted in the Marine Corps on June 3, , after serving three years in the United States Army with duty in the Philippines. He was deployed to Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, and in August , he took part in the invasion of Guadalcanal. In October, he and two other Marines used machine guns to hold off an attack by a far numerically superior Japanese force. In February , he was killed in action on the first day of the invasion of Iwo Jima, after he single-handedly destroyed an enemy blockhouse and led a Marine tank under fire safely through a minefield.
He has received many honors including being the namesake for streets, military locations, and two United States Navy destroyers.
Early life and e
Lena Mae Riggi Basilone, born on March 7, , was no ordinary woman. She was not just a loving spouse to a decorated war hero, but a remarkable individual who carved her own path in life. Her story is one of service, love, and unwavering dedication. Born into an immigrant Italian family in the bustling city of Portland, Oregon, Lena&#;s early life was built on the foundations of hard work and determination. Her parents, who had journeyed to America in search of a better life, instilled in her the values of resilience and perseverance from a young age. Like many ambitious young women of her time, Lena left her hometown to pursue higher education. She moved out of Oregon to attend business school, a move that showcased her desire for self-improvement and independence. However, her life took a dramatic turn with the onset of World War II. With the world at war, Lena felt compelled to serve the nation. Driven by a sense of duty, she enlisted in the Marine Corps during the height of World War II. This decision was a testament to her courage and conviction. She was stationed at Camp Pendleton, where
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Introduction to Lena Mae Riggi
Early Life and Background
Joining the Marine Corps
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