Medal of Honor Recipient John Basilone and Carolyn Orehovic at the 400 Restaurant and Cocktail
While at Camp Pendleton for training he met Lena Mae Riggi, a Sergeant in the Marine Corps Women's Reserve. They were married in July 1944 at St. Mary's Star of the Sea Church in Oceanside. Basilone requested a return to the Pacific Theater and served as a machine gun section leader with the 1st Battalion, 27th Marines, 5th Marine Division.
John Basilone’s Pride is Still Remembered Today Hoofprints
Born on Nov. 4, 1916, in Ruritan, New York, Basilone would go on to become the first U.S. Marine of enlisted rank to earn the Medal of Honor during World War II. He was also the only enlisted Marine to earn the Navy Cross posthumously. Basilone hadn't begun his career in the Marine Corps.
Lena Mae Riggi Image 142531 TVmaze
In late December 1943, after requesting once again to return to the Pacific, Gunnery Sergeant Basilone was assigned to Camp Pendleton, California, where he was assigned to a unit training to deploy to the Pacific. While there, he fell in love with a female Marine sergeant, Lena Mae Riggi. They dated a few months, then married in July 1944.
Lena Mae Gamblin The Troy Times Tribune
Subscribe Subscribed 14K views 2 years ago #FamousGraves #JohnBasilone Had a chance to visit the gravesite of, and pay my respects to Sgt. Lena Mae Riggi Basilone, widow of Gunnery Sergeant John.
Pin on History WW2
He spotted Lena Mae Riggi one day while walking the serving line at his new base, and he was smitten.. Riggi was a marine sergeant too but a reservist, so military rules against fraternization.
Sgt Lena Mae Riggi Basilone (1913 1999) Find A Grave Photos
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.
Sgt Lena Mae (Riggi) Basilone Women Marines Association
Her name was Lena Mae Riggi, a sergeant at the time serving as a field cook in the Marine Corps Women's Reserve. Her fellow female Marines fawned over Basilone and his heroism but she wasn't.
Barringer, Lena Mae Memories of Mont Amoena
While at Camp Pendleton, he met Sgt. Lena Mae Riggi, who was with the Marine Corps Women's Reserve. They were married in Oceanside, California, returning to their duties at Camp Pendleton after a short honeymoon. At the end of 1944, Basilone requested a return to fleet duty.
Sgt Lena Mae (Riggi) Basilone Sergeant, War bonds, War veterans
After repeated requests, Basilone's request to return to combat was approved. On December 27, 1943 he departed for Camp Pendleton, California for training and met his future wife, U.S. Marine Corps Women's Reserve Sergeant Lena Mae Riggi. On July 10, 1944 the couple was married at St. Mary's Church in Oceanside with a reception at the Carlsbad Hotel.
Basilone and Sgt Lena Mae Riggi USMC Life
In late 1943, Basilone was assigned to Camp Pendleton, California, where he fell in love with Lena Mae Riggi, a female Marine sergeant. They married in July 1944, but their time together was short-lived. Basilone's unit received orders to sail to the Pacific, and he left for combat before Christmas 1944, never seeing his wife again..
Sgt Lena Mae (Riggi) Basilone Sergeant, War bonds, War veterans
Lena Mae Basilone (Riggi) (c.1913 - 1999) - Genealogy MSgt. Lena Basilone ‹ Back to Basilone surname View Complete Profile Historical records matching MSgt. Lena Basilone Lena Riggi in 1930 United States Federal Census Lena M Basilone in Social Security Death Index Lena M Basilone in U.S. Veterans Burial Sites, 1775 - 2013
Basilone paintings search result at
Sgt Lena Mae Basilone was an Italian American who joined the US Marine Corps Women's Reserve as a field cook. She married GySgt John Basilone before he was deployed to the Pacific theater and.
Sgt Lena Mae (Riggi) Basilone... All Hands Magazine
Sergeant Lena Mae Riggi Basilone (formerly Lena Mae Riggi) was the love interest, and eventual wife of John Basilone Contents 1 History 1.1 Meeting John Basilone 1.2 Dating and Marriage 1.3 Widowed 1.4 Later Life 2 Trivia 3 See Also History Lena was born in 1913.
Marine God Puller Sgt. Lena Basilone Pictures
Her name was Lena Mae Riggi, a sergeant at the time serving as a field cook in the Marine Corps Women's Reserve. Her fellow female Marines fawned over Basilone and his heroism but she wasn't.
John Basilone and Lena Riggi Wedding
Thanks to a character in the recent television series called "The Pacific", the name of a female Marine has made an appearance on the pop culture radar: Lena Mae Riggi. If the name does not sound familiar, you may recognize her married name: Basilone.
John Basilone and Lena Riggi wedding. Vintage Wedding Party, Wedding Parties, Eugene Sledge
Story by Aleena Malik • 1mo Lena Riggi never remarried after her husband's death, a testament to the strong bond they shared and the love she had for him. Lena continued to honor John.