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The Water-Walking Foundation has entered into a strategic partnership with The SGT John Basilone Foundation to promote the memory of America’s heroes of the past, to create awareness of the Price of Freedom and our Veterans’ sacrifices to preserve America’s liberties and way of life, and to honor and reward families of its contemporary veterans with scholarships and other financial support. Water-Walking is working with its strategic partners to promote the sale and distribution of the remarkable Basilone biography, I’m Staying With My Boys, by author Jim Proser, with future plans to support the theatrical production of a movie depicting the events in that amazing story. For more information on I’m Staying With My Boys and its accompanying DVD documentary, please Click Here.
World War II Citation Medal of Honor
Sgt. John Basilone
John BasiloneRank and Organization: Sergeant, U.S. Marine Corps.
Born: November 4, 1916; Buffalo, NY
Accredited to: New Jersey
Other Navy award: Navy Cross
The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR to Sergeant John Basilone United States Marine Corps
Citation:
For extraordinary heroism and conspicuous gallantry in action against enemy Japanese forces, above and beyond the call of duty, while serving with the First Battalion, Seventh Marines, First Marine Division in the Lunga Area, Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, on October 24th and 25th, 1942. While the enemy was hammering at the Marines' defensive positions, Sergeant Basilone, in charge of 2 sections of heavy machine guns, fought valiantly to check the savage and determined assault. In a fierce frontal attack with the Japanese blasting his guns with grenades and mortar fire, one of Sergeant. Basilone's sections, with its gun crews, was put out of action, leaving only 2 men able to carry on. Moving an extra gun into position, he placed it in action, then, under continual fire, repaired another and personally manned it, gallantly holding his line until replacements arrived. A little later, with ammunition critically low and the supply lines cut off, Sergeant Basilone, at great risk of his life and in the face of continued enemy attack, battled his way through hostile lines with urgently needed shells for his gunners, thereby contributing in large measure to the virtual annihilation of a Japanese regiment. His great personal valor and courageous initiative were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
/S/ Franklin D. Roosevelt
For more information about how you can lend a hand in preserving and promoting the achievements and sacrifices of one our history's greatest American heroes, or to offer scholarship and/or movie production financial support, please contact The Water-Walking Foundation.
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