BASILONE, JOHN United States Marine Corps VETERAN SERVICE DATES: Unknown DATE OF DEATH: 02/19/1945 DATE OF INTERMENT: 04/20/1948 BURIED AT: SECTION 12 SITE 384 ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY Michael Robert Patterson was born in Arlington and is the son of a former officer of the US Army. I see us tangling with Muslim fundamentalists with our full military weight and soldiers like John and Lean were will help us win it. Having Served 21 years of Active Duty from 1970 to 1992. From her Find-A-Grave entry and her obituary: Lena Mae Riggi was born on March 7, 1913 in Portland, Oregon. Lena was definitely one of a kind. She even said when you had the best,who wants the rest especially after John was killed at Iwo Jima. The Death of "Manila John" Basilone. he met his future wife, Lena Mae Riggi, who was a Sergeant in the Marine Corps Women's Reserve. On December 8, 1941, she went to go shopping. Vera, always treasure what John and Lena were, real icons and professionals. She may have never forgiven him for going back into battle. I knew of her by reputation as did other veterans. By the end of the engagement, Japanese forces opposite the Marines' lines had been virtually annihilated. Although she was just. Today, the Women's Reserve is no more. I thought I would share some of the information I have found on Lena Basilone, it's not much, but here it is. Thanks for the kind words. I'm Staying With My Boys: The Heroic Life of Sgt. John Basilone You truley were a good friend to her. The military's standard procedure is to notify the family before the media. In our Baptist church whenever we sang The Battle Hymn of the Republic she would stand up and get everyone marching behind her all around the auditorium!!! They . to me it was a tough and frustrating war in many ways. We are a better world because of them Regards, Doc. I suspect she feared if she was buried next to John, that might have dredged up old wounds with the family. Are their any other books about him? Sgt Lena Mae (Riggi) Basilone - Women Marines Association But she always contended it would be too much trouble. 1939. They got the part absolutely right about Lena totally ignoring Johnny when they first met. To my knowledge, Lena never had long hair and I dont think in those days it was allowed by the WMS. My mother married my father in 43 during the war and she constantly worried about him until he came. May 10, 2013!! Dear Barbara Garner, My mom had me and cousins who served over the years in the US and Israeli military. I have been a combat veteran from the Vietnam era to Iraq. John Basilone Memorial Parade in Raritan NJ returns Sept. 18 She was laid to rest in the National Cemetery at Riverside, California. Lena earned the right to be buried next to John. When he requested again to return to the war, the request was approved. This N.J town has a sister in Italy, thanks to a WWII hero
