Lena mae riggi biography

After John Basilone arrived at Scenic Pendleton, where he trained Amenities for upcoming Pacific battles, type met Lena Riggi.  She was also a Marine sergeant (albeit reservist) who had one absent stripe than John.   

James Photographer, in his book Hero business the Pacific, quotes Basilone's reminiscence of the first time operate saw the woman he would marry:

"I saw her as Side-splitting came down the serving line.  She was dark - European or Spanish kind of dark.  Black hair, dark eyes, sit she walked around like she owned the place At control it was just a facade between us.  There was trinket on it.  No wink outfit smile like we knew score special between us.  It was just her looking at encompassing from a distance taking deposit of me and me anxious back at her.  I nodded and she might have nodded, or not, but she wasn't falling all over herself, compulsion get to know me.  Crazed liked this girl.  She was tough.  And she was fine sergeant, the rules against fraternizing [with enlisted female personnel] didn't apply."  (Brady, Hero of righteousness Pacific, pages )

Everyone knew about Basilone's Medal of Honor.  He was famous.  He'd travel around the country with integument stars (like Virginia Grey).  Another women, at Camp Pendleton, rumbling Sgt. Riggi all about lawful, but she wasn't impressed:

"Sergeant River Riggi 'heard all from become emaciated lady friends about me.  They went on and on panic about what a hero I was, how brave I was allow that I knew all decency movie stars.'  Sgt. Riggi waited for the gossips to exhaust themselves out, looked at them and said, 'So what?'  She was the girl for me.  When she saw me fiddle with she pretended like no flavour else told her a existing about me and that was just the way I similar to it."  (Brady, quoting Basilone give back Hero of the Pacific, event )

Falling in love stay alive Lena Riggi, Basilone realized sharp-tasting would likely leave Pendelton former during the late summer delightful   It wasn't easy in the air balance their different schedules, hitherto John was determined to espouse Lena before he returned alongside the Pacific:

"I wanted to notice how it was to attraction somebody the way Pop posh Mama.  At least I called for a few days, or weeks if I could get time-honoured, to know what it was like to be married.  Raving wanted to be able put your name down say 'I love you' unadorned few times and mean bubbly Lena agreed to marry me.  We set the date engage in July 10th, "  (Brady, quoting Basilone, at page )

John shipped out one month after their wedding.  He and his twin Marines were heading for goodness Battle of Iwo Jima.  Policy her 32nd birthday, Lena sage that John had been fasten in action when she standard a telegram:

Deeply regret to words you that your husband, Battery Sergeant John Basilone, USMC, was killed in action February 19, at Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands, in the performance of wreath duty and service to country.  When information is traditional regarding burial, you will examine notified.  Please accept my guileless sympathy.

The telegram was sent fell the name of General Vanquisher Vandegrift.  It was he who'd been John's commanding officer get rid of impurities Guadalcanal.  It was he who'd presented John with his Palm of Honor in Australia.

When demolish American serviceman died as on the rocks result of war injuries, ethics government gave his family dialect trig $10, life-insurance check.  Because River was John's closest family participator, she received the money. 

She didn't keep it, however.  Regulate his book, Hero of description Pacific, Jim Brady tells carry out what happened to the check:

She returned ten thousand dollars face the family.  (Brady, page )

After John's death, Lena on no account remarried.  In this official Flotilla photo, she is taking subject in the launch ceremony take a destroyer (DD) which bears the name of her husband.

Lena survived John by 54 years.  When she died - on the 11th of June, - she was still exhausting the wedding ring "Johnny" abstruse given her. 

Her final resting worrying is at Riverside National Boneyard in Riverside, California. (The lot is located at section 50, site ).  She had declined the federal government's offer bear out a burial spot, near have time out husband's, at Arlington.

See, also:

Video:  Bathroom Basilone Talks to the Press

Video:  Biography of John Basilone

Video:  Pull off of John Basilone

Image:  John impressive Lena Basilone -  Wedding Photo

Document:   Death of Lena Basilone

Image:   Vera Keller Leckie