In Honor of Marine John Basilone - MOH, 1942

Nearly 70 years ago to the day on a then little known island a young man from Raritan, NJ did an incredibly brave thing and for his acts received the nation's highest honor, The Medal of Honor--that man was Marine John Basilone. His citation reads in part, " For extraordinary heroism and conspicuous gallantry...above and beyond the call of duty, while serving with the 1st Battalion, 7th Marines...Guadalcanal on 24 and 25 October 1942...". The victory on the 'Canal was the 1st of WW II. Then 22 year old Marine Cpl Ray Weeks also of NJ was serving w/ 2/7, also a MG section leader. Cpl Weeks survived the battle and 3 others, including Peleliu. He said very little about his time in the Pacific--like many Marines that served during that era. RW