Italian American One Voice Coalition

  Rep. Bill Pascrell Jr., Enlists

February 4, 2000

WASHINGTON -- U.S. Reps. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-N.J., 8th) and Eliot L. Engel (D-N.J., 17th) recently sent a "Dear Colleague" letter to their fellow members of the United States Congress to enlist support for creation of a postage stamp honoring Italian-American World War II hero John Basilone.

Gunnery Sgt. John Basilone of Raritan, N.J., was the first Marine and the first enlisted man to be presented the Congressional Medal of Honor for heroism in World War II. Born in Buffalo, N.Y., Basilone was in charge of two machine gun sections in 1942 at Henderson Field, Guadalcanal, where he led 14 gunners against an attack of 15,000 Japanese soldiers, eliminating an enemy regiment in a three-day battle.

"John Basilone was a hero in the truest sense of the word," Pascrell said. "As we enter a new millennium and more and more time passes since America and our allies defeated the forces of totalitarianism in World War II, it is so important that we remember and honor the epic acts of men and women like John Basilone. A postage stamp is a very appropriate and meaningful way to achieve this."

After receiving the Congressional Medal of Honor, Basilone was pulled from combat and returned home to the U.S. to appear at war bond rallies around the country. Basilone's picture made the cover of Life magazine; he met Hollywood starlets and was showered with adulation from shore to shore.

Despite all the attention, John Basilone's great love of our country inspired him to voluntarily return to combat and rejoin troops overseas. Although Sgt. Basilone made the greatest sacrifice one can make when he was killed by a Japanese artillery shell on Iwo Jima, just a few hours earlier, under heavy fire, he had single-handedly destroyed an enemy blockhouse earning him a posthumous Navy Cross. Basilone died at the young age of 28.

Pascrell helped spearhead a petition drive that gathered more than 15,000 signatures in support of a John Basilone stamp. Pascrell intends to soon hand-deliver the petition to the U.S. Postal Service along with the Dear Colleague letter signed by members of Congress.

"With the many negative Italian-American stereotypes so prevalent today in our popular culture, a John Basilone stamp could impress on the nation, especially our youth, that there are positive Italian-American role models to aspire toward," Pascrell added. "The story of John Basilone should be an inspiration for all Americans. His short life of valor, courage and patriotism cannot easily be matched."

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