Lena mae riggi wiki

She chose the latter. On December 21,Lena participated in the christening ceremony of the USS Basilone, a destroyer named in honor of her late husband. The act was a clear demonstration of her selfless love and respect for her husband. She spent over 50 years living in Lakewood, California, where she worked for the local electric company. Her work was not just about earning a living; it was about being an active contributing member of her community.

Outside of her job, Lena devoted her time to volunteering. Through these avenues, she continued her life of service, extending her dedication beyond the Marine Corps to help those in need. She was offered a burial spot in Arlington Cemetery near her husband, but she declined. Instead, she chose to be laid to rest in the National Cemetery at Riverside, California.

This recognition further solidified the legacy of Lena and her husband. Lena Mae Riggi Basilone was a remarkable woman. From her early life to her service in the Marine Corps, her marriage to John Basilone, and her post-war contributions, her story is a narrative of dedication, resilience, and selfless love. She was more than just the wife of a decorated war hero.

She was a woman who carved her own path, who chose service over self, and who turned personal tragedy into a lifetime of giving. Her story serves as a beacon of strength and resilience, of love and loss, and of a life well-lived. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. During a heavy enemy attack in Guadalcanal, Basilone and his men defeated thousands of Japanese troops while he single-handedly repaired and manned multiple machine guns and risked his life running through enemy lines to retrieve critical ammunition.

Often described as a decorated American hero and a Marine Corps legend, John Basilone was, in his heart, an ordinary family man. After returning from his successful tour in Guadalcanal, Basilone received overwhelming amounts of publicity. He was offered roles in movies, invited to parades, and even spent time with the president. While this was all very flattering, he never seemed to find comfort in smiling for the cameras.

John was attracted to the simpler things in life. At the end of the day, after the cameras stopped flashing and parades came to an end, Basilone was a traditional man. He loved his country and he loved the brothers who fought by his side. He wanted, more than anything, to have a wife and a family of his own. Barbara Garner. Lena was a person who lived life with a low profile and she was laid to rest in Riverside countys VA cemetery.

I would think she should be buried beside John Basilone. I am affiliated with many WWII and Viet Nam vets and we never talk about what happened over there as much as you have on this forum. Hi Paul: I was a young kid when Vietnam went down. My cousins, and two uncles fought there and I learned quickly what Vietnam was about. The were either Green Berets or medics, a supply clerk and even grunts.

I caught the tail end of it when we had to get our ADA missiles out of there. I then years later caught the Gulf war, Korea, Bosnia and Iraq. My dad was in the Pacific on Guam, the Marshalls and Peleliu. I served for 34 years nearly and the others did service from years. I definitely appreciate what family did in Vietnam. Gotta gp get em.

Later in other conflicts it was knowledge I definitely needed and used, as it save my life. I lost some high school buddies that went to Nam as well some in later conflicts. I love my Vietnam compadres and family. I think you went through a tougher ringer than I did with exception for Iraq. God love the brothers from Nam and I never stop thinking about you guys.

That kept me young at heart. I ran into Mrs. Basilone the VA when I need help navigating the system, She was there for me. The gave us a lot and we appreciated their help in return as they helped us vets adjust. I am finding this is a need especially this last Friday when a retired E7 took his daughters and himself in a homicide. I worked every day of my EMS career to prevent this.

I want to reduce veteran suicide statistic rate. Hi, your very lucky to have known Lena Basilone. I loved the movie Pacific and i felt horrible when he died so young after they were married. I just had a question, was she close to his family after he passed? I was so happy for them both when they got married. She must have been a great marine. My hero as well as her husband.

Hi Robin: I second what you said. Lena was a pioneer Marine and very dedicated both to the Corps and to John. In later life she served at the VA ;and everyone she came into contact with. Barbara Garner was a genuine daughter and family member to her. Lena Basilone teachs me a lot even after she is gone from our presence. Her spirit still lives on.

I miss Lena even it was a brief time I knew her. Robin: I second a lot of Pauls comments. My father was in the Pacific with the 32nd and 81st. My father was a medic and water purification specialist. My dad fought in the Peleliu campaign. I think it is what spooked him from combat. He rarely talked about WW2 like a lot of other vets. I learned from others like uncles, friends and comrades.

I have 8 combat campaigns from Vietnam era to Iraq. It was my frame of combat reference. In my mind from what I have learned about Peleiu it was a blood affair on lena mae riggi wiki sides. Only 34 Japanese survived it. The Marines and Army suffered over casualities. I had it easy in comparison. If that helps you. I reluctantly want to fight wars but as a medic we are needed to ease the suffering and save lives.

Hi Barbara, After seeing pacific and lena mae riggi wiki about John Basilone i have so much admiration for the both of them. I love reading everything about ww2 and the greatest generation. I wish i could have known her. You truley were a good friend to her. Thank God she had someone. It was so sad that they never got to spend their lives together.

I think she was the most selfless person. She is my hero. Thank You Robin. Hi Robin and Barbara:I was recently out to my old home at Anaheim. Women recently won an important victory, they now can be combat arms officers. This has been an exclusively a mans kingdom. Lena was the pioneer and was a very strong Non commissioned officer and ran a very good mess hall.

Her group of women were heavily complimented and recognized by the marines they served for good chow. I have had female cousins who were excellent NCOs and officers. If it was not for Marines like Lena Basilone and John Basilone the marines would not be the organization they are today. It also is sad that Lena had a short time with John.

She loved him very much. My mother married my father in 43 during the war and she constantly worried about him until he came. My mom had me and cousins who served over the years in the US and Israeli military. I caught heck from Mom for not writing. I deserved it. I was a busy medic and many days circumstances precluded writing. We do overlook the homefront but we have better communication, specifically emails now.

Lena and John would like these changes. I served as a medic to many of the combat arms so I hope my insights help. My god she was a hero as well as her husband. The Greatest Generation. I wish i was around then. America was so much better i am sure. Hi SGT Rick, i love everything about the greatest generation. My uncles are marine and Navy vets as well as my two brothers who are Marines.

Lena mae riggi wiki

I am so proud to be from a military family. Thank you for your service as well as everyone who serves. She is truely my hero as well as her husband. Lena saw to it that I got the care I needed that day and helped me work through the system there. I am eternal grateful for that help. She helped a lot of vets navigate the system at LAs VA. I see that your family had a lot of marines and sailors, as are some members of my family.

They were both rare kind of Marines. They were both technically saavy at their jobs and legendary leaders as NCOs. They are heros to me, as the members of my family who answered the call and still do to this day, my family in Israel. I have never regret a moment of my 34 yrs of service. I have written about Her for years, and a photograph of the current Headstone can be found at.

Hi Mike or Major Pain. I knew Lena briefly because I had to have an urgent medical problem taken care of at the VA and she helped me cut much of the red tape. I had family in 1st Mar Div ahead of and had to join the Army in I served until and retired. I was lena mae riggi wiki an aviation medic and ground medic. I kind of figured Lenas headsone would not be in the location it was supposed to be.

Lena was ahead of her time as were many women Marines. Women marines can be rifleman which it is only right and fair. We need everyone on the line. Lena served an important role though,giving the soldier good chow was a morale booster. It is something the infantry appreciates or as grunts. Barbara Garner knew her best. My father and a lot of my uncles served in the Pacific as pilots, medics ,and grunts, one was a coxswain on the LCVPs or Higgins boats.

I have had 7 combat campaigns to boot too Lena was not not much for publicity and kept a low profile. I do miss her to this day. Memorial day is coming upon us fast and its time to remember those we lost, and those who gave back much to veterans as did Lena. They will forever belong to a Band of Brothers and Sisters who willingly served this Country when she called.

Having Served 21 years of Active Duty from to I am proud to call John and Lena. Regardless of Service Branch, we all, will forever belong to a Band of Brothers and Sisters that only we can understand. Oh, my, it must have been terrible for her. I wonder why she only appeared in public the one time on his behalf… Did she ever say more about her husband or her marriage?

Why did she not want to be buried with or near him? Thank you Barbara Garner for your detailed comments about the wonderful Lena, and how you tried to get her to agree to be buried near her husband. Such a self-effacing woman she must have been, all the while doing so much good for others! And your efforts have been repaid many times over I am sure, by those who now know more about her.

Gracias, amiga! She was an incredible human being and an even better marine, but before posting an article make sure you watch the entire series there were 2 more episodes after your supposed conclusion. It doesnt go into as much depth as you have but it does give her closure in the series. Miss she had the man he was worth more than any material thing she had and her memory of him was enough for her.

The younger people have never learned this and it is a strange concept to them. She gave to his family to not be selfish and share. Both her and her husband had each other and that was enough. His relatives basked in his reflected glory due to his MOH and widely reported heroism. Then, John marries this stranger and he focuses on her instead of the family.

My opinion is they were terribly jealous of her and blamed her for taking away their son and brother. They exhibited little gratitude when she gave the family the medal and insurance proceeds. I suspect she feared if she was buried next to John, that might have dredged up old wounds with the family. She had made peace with her loss alone, without receiving any compassion from them.

She had her memories of John Basilone. His love for her was her memorial. Sergeant Lena Riggi was the female Marine who fell […]. Hi Barbara! I know your comment is from many years ago, but I do hope this finds you well! I want to honor her life and her lost story- but I cannot do that properly without personal testament. Please feel free to email me at the address below or Alison.

Bardeguez usmc. Hi Sabrina!! I too am writing about her for a project in the Marines. My name is Ali Bardeguez, and I was wondering if maybe you had some insight to her upbringing? I think their story is wonderful, and I am honoring our heritage as women in the Marines and her service to our nation by writing about the lost story of her life.

I hope we can share information! Please feel free to email me at Alison. Deeply moved and deeply saddened by the story of John and Lena. What a debt we owe to that generation. May they rest in peace. Lena lost her husband within A few short months after their wedding. A piece of their son to cling toto assuage their pain. It is the blood of John and those who served that binds the mortar of the foundation of the greatest nation ever!

Eternal be his memory. My intrest was to watch what my two Uncles had gone through as they were in all those battles amongst all the Marines. My Uncle Dick fought and flag razed on Mount Suribaci. After his request to return to the fleet was approved, Basilone was assigned to "C" Company, 1st Battalion, 27th Marine Regiment5th Marine Division.

While the Marines landed, the Japanese concentrated their fire at the incoming Marines from heavily fortified blockhouses staged throughout the island. With his unit pinned lena mae riggi wiki, Basilone made his way around the side of the Japanese positions until he was directly on top of the blockhouse. He then attacked with grenades and demolitions, single-handedly destroying the entire strong point and its defending garrison.

He then fought his way toward Airfield Number 1 and aided a Marine tank that was trapped in an enemy mine field under intense mortar and artillery barrages. He guided the heavy vehicle over the hazardous terrain to safety, despite heavy weapons fire from the Japanese. Basilone was killed as he moved along the edge of the airfield. Original reports indicated he was hit by Japanese mortar shrapnel, although author Hugh Ambrosefollowing his research for the book and miniseries The Pacificsuggested that a burst of small arms fire hit him in the groin, neck, and left arm.

Basilone's actions helped Marines penetrate the Japanese defense and get off the landing beach during the critical early stages of the invasion. Basilone was posthumously awarded the Marine Corps' second-highest decoration for valor, the Navy Cross, for extraordinary heroism during the battle of Iwo Jima. Lena's obituary notes that she never remarried and was buried still wearing her wedding ring.

Gunnery Sergeant Basilone's military awards include: [ 23 ]. 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 While the enemy was hammering at the Marines' defensive positions, Sgt.

In a fierce frontal attack with the Japanese blasting his guns with grenades and mortar fire, one of Sgt. 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 lena mae riggi wiki the virtual annihilation of a Japanese regiment. His great personal valor and courageous initiative were in keeping with the highest traditions of the U.

Naval Service. Shrewdly gauging the tactical situation shortly after landing when his company's advance was held up by the concentrated fire of a heavily fortified Japanese blockhouse, Gunnery Sergeant BASILONE boldly defied the smashing bombardment of heavy caliber fire to work his way around the flank and up to a position directly on top of the blockhouse and then, attacking with grenades and demolitions, single handedly destroyed the entire hostile strong point and its defending garrison.

Consistently daring and aggressive as he fought his way over the battle-torn beach and up the sloping, gun-studded terraces toward Airfield Number 1, he repeatedly exposed himself to the blasting fury of exploding shells and later in the day coolly proceeded to the aid of a friendly tank which had been trapped in an enemy mine field under intense mortar and artillery barrages, skillfully guiding the heavy vehicle over the hazardous terrain to safety, despite the overwhelming volume of hostile fire.

In the forefront of the assault at all times, he pushed forward with dauntless courage and iron determination until, moving upon the edge of the airfield, he fell, instantly killed by a bursting mortar shell. Stouthearted and indomitable, Gunnery Sergeant BASILONE, by his intrepid initiative, outstanding skill, and valiant spirit of self-sacrifice in the face of the fanatic opposition, contributed materially to the advance of his company during the early critical period of the assault, and his unwavering devotion to duty throughout the bitter conflict was an inspiration to his comrades and reflects the highest credit upon Gunnery Sergeant BASILONE and the United States Naval Service.

He gallantly gave his life in the service of his country. Contents move to sidebar hide. Marine Corps. Article Talk. Read Edit View history. Tools Tools. Download as PDF Printable version. In other projects. Wikimedia Commons Wikidata item. Arlington National Cemetery. Lena Mae Riggi. Early life and education [ edit ]. Military service [ edit ].

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