The John Basilone Stamp Campaign

More About John Basilone

"149,048 seek Puller stamp"
Peter Bacque
Times-Dispatch Staff Writer
August 21, 1999

"For Chesty, a place where no Marine has been"
Peter Bacque
Times-Dispatch Staff Writer
June 9, 1997

Letter From William J. Henderson - To The Honorable John M. McHugh, Chairman, Subcommittee on the Postal Service Committee on Government Reform

Letter From John M. McHugh - To Major J acques B. Loraine Jr.

Letter From General James L. Jones - To Major Jacques B. Loraine

Letter From Charles S. Robb - To Major Jacques B. Loraine, Jr.

Letter From John Warner - To Major Jacques B. Loraine, Jr.

Letter From Faith M. Beamon - To Honorable John W. Warner

Letter From Kathrine A. Sitlerie, Government Relations Representative -
To The Honorable Benjamin A. Gilman, Member of Congress
Page 1 - Page 2

Letter From William J. Henderson - To The Honorable John M. McHugh, Chairman, Subcommittee on the Postal Service Committee on Government Reform

Letter From Major Jacques B. Loraine, Jr. - To Mr. Runyon, Postmaster General of the United States

Letter From Major Jacques B. Loraine, Jr. - To Postmaster General of the United States Commitee Members

From the Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee of the USPS
http://www.usps.com/news/fyi/csacinfo.htm

About the Stamp Campaign

United States Postage Stamps are decided by the Citizen’s Stamp Advisory Committee (CSAC). CSAC is an independent entity answerable only to the Post Master of the United States. Therefore, this means that for a John Basilone United States Postage Stamp to become a reality CSAC must give their approval.

The John Basilone Stamp Campaign has been ongoing since 1999. The two main organizations that are sponsoring the Basilone Stamp Campaign are “The Concerned Citizens Committee,” in New Jersey headed by Florence and Peter Ippolito and the Basilone Detachment of the Marine Corps League. Over 150,000 signatures have been collected and sent to the Post Master General.

Prior to 1999, in 1997, Major Jacques Lorraine, USMC (ret.) presented to CSAC over 170,000 signatures and a Virginia State resolution endorsing support for a Lieutenant General Lewis “Chesty” Puller for a postage stamp. To date CSAC is still considering the Chesty Puller Stamp.

Currently there is a resolution (HConRes. 4) pending in the House of Representatives "which expresses that it is the sense of Congress that a stamp should be issued honoring Gunnery Sergeant John Basilone." H.Con.Res 4 is “stuck” in the Committee on Government Reform -Congressmen Dan Barton, Ill., (R) is the chair. All stamp resolutions which are presented to the House are sent to the Committee on Government Reform. However, the Committee has a rule - Rule #19 - which does not allow the passage of stamp resolutions. Therefore, we need the public, Marines, and our other brothers and sisters in the armed forces to support this stamp.

There are several easy ways in which you can lend your support

send a letter to your Senator

email jajaffe@earthlink.net for a paper petition

sign the online petition which shows the world you support this campaign but holds no legal validity.

The Story of John Basilone

John Basilone’s story has many extraordinary facets. The most outstanding of which is that after receiving the Medal of Honor, Basilone returned to the Pacific Theater.

Medal of Honor recipients do not as rule return to the front. The most basic reason for this is that it would morally debilitating to both civilians and the military if Medal of Honor recipients were killed in action.

During World War II, on 24-25 October1942, the 1^st Marine Division 7^th Marines 1^st Battalion fought off 15,000 Imperial Japanese Soldiers in the battle for Guadalcanal. This battle was a turning point in the conflict for the Pacific. The fight was centered around Henderson Field, a crucial supply link to the for the Marines and the U.S. Navy. At times, Basilone was forced to use his sidearm to defend himself against the enemy soldiers.

After securing Henderson Field, Basilone was sent first to Australia where his MOH was presented to him and then home to America. Upon returning to the States, John was tasked to do a War Bond Drive with Hollywood Celebrities and Dignitaries of the Day. Basilone was not fond of press interviews and public speaking. However, his superiors explained that Basilone’s presence was as important in the War effort as combat.

After the War Bond Tour finished, Basilone was stationed in California at Camp Pendleton. While in California, Basilone was offered a commission and any military occupation specialty of his choosing. Basilone declined both offers. John explained to his commanding officer that he had promised his Marines that he would return to the War.

A promise made is a promise kept; John returned to Pacific. When Basilone kept his promise he left behind his bride, a Marine whom he had met in California. Mrs. Basilone understood why John had to leave. The Basilone’s were looking forward to beginning a large family when he returned. They both wanted children.

On 19 February 1945, the first contingent of Marines landed on the sands of Iwo. Gunnery Sergeant John Basilone was among that contingent of Marines. John was killed by enemy mortar fire. He died in the arms of a PFC as he tried to put his entrails back into his stomach. Right up until his last breath John Basilone kept encouraging his Marines to continue fighting. Shortly after John passed away his brother Joe, who was also a Marine landed on Iwo Jima and continued the fight.

John started his military career with a tour in the United States Army. During that period of time Basilone boxed as a light heavy weight for the Army. Because he was stationed in the Philippines, John earned the nickname of “Manila John.”

After his tour in the Army, Basilone returned home to Rariton, New Jersey. John’s parents were hopeful that John would find a job, settle down and marry. However, while in the Philippines, Basilone told his Sergeant that the Japanese would attack the United States. John’s Sergeant scoffed at the idea.

As John hopped from job to job the idea of a Japanese invasion never left him. This notion was confirmed one day while caddying for Japanese businessmen at the local country club in New Jersey. Basilone kept his ideas to himself, figuring that no one would listen to an unemployed kid who had never finished high school.

Basilone’s exasperation at not finding the right “niche” in life was surpassed only by his parents who feared that their son would never settle down. John sought advice from his priest who counseled John by saying, “When it was right he would know it.” That “right” day came when Basilone walked into a Marine recruiting station and enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. When John Basilone became a Marine he knew that he had found his destiny. A few days before the landing at Iwo, John told his brother Joe that “Without his Corps, his life meant nothing.” Outstanding words, spoken by an outstanding Marine.

About John Basilone

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