Original Item. One-of-a-Kind. John Basilone (November 4, 1916 – February 19, 1945) was a United States Marine Corps gunnery sergeant who received the Medal of Honor for actions 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.

His MOH citation reads:

“For extraordinary heroism and conspicuous gallantry in action against enemy Japanese forces, above and beyond the call of duty, while serving with the 1st Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division in the Lunga Area, Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, on 24 and 25 October 1942. While the enemy was hammering at the Marines' defensive positions, Sgt. 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 Sgt. 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, Sgt. 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 U.S. Naval Service.”

This is a great framed signature of Basilone with an interesting bit of provenance. A note in the frame states that the signature was acquired by Anthony Schipani, a resident of Raritan, New Jersey, on September 20th, 1943, the day after the Basilone Homecoming Parade. This makes this a very scarce signature, as Basilone was killed in the Battle of Iwo Jima in 1945. 

The frame measures 8 ¼ x 20 ¼” with a hanging wire. Ready to display!

Basilone enlisted in the Marine Corps on June 3, 1940, after serving three years in the United States Army with duty in the Philippines. He was deployed to Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, and in August 1942, he took part in the invasion of Guadalcanal. In October, he and the two machine-gun sections under his command held off an attack by a numerically far superior Japanese force. He was one of only three Marines in that group to survive. His actions at Guadalcanal earned him the Medal of Honor. This led to him being called home for a war bond tour, which made him nationally famous.

Basilone would later re-enlist with the Marines, and in 1945 was killed in action on the first day of the invasion of Iwo Jima, after he led the charge to destroy a Japanese blockhouse and while leading a Marine tank under fire safely through a minefield. Including the Medal of Honor, he has received many posthumous honors, including having base streets, military facilities, and two United States Navy destroyers named in his honor. Basilone would gain renewed attention as one of the protagonists of the 2010 television miniseries The Pacific, in which he was portrayed by Jon Seda.