The John Basilone Stamp Campaign

SENATE RESOLUTION No. 60

STATE OF NEW JERSEY209th LEGISLATURE

INTRODUCED 21 SEPTEMBER 2000

Sponsored by:

Senator LEONARD T. CONNORS, JR.

District 9 (Atlantic, Burlington and Ocean)

SYNOPSIS

Urges U.S. Postal Service to issue commemorative stamp honoring Sgt. John Basilone.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

As introduced.

A Senate Resolution urging the United States Postal Service to issue a commemorative stamp honoring Sergeant John Basilone.

Whereas, Marine Gunnery Sergeant John Basilone was the first enlisted Marine in World War II to earn the Congressional Medal of Honor for his heroism at Guadalcanal in 1942; and

Whereas, A native of Raritan, New Jersey, Sergeant Basilone was in charge of two machine gun sections at Henderson Field, Guadalcanal, where his actions helped stop a major Japanese attack and eliminate an enemy regiment; and

Whereas, Sergeant Basilone was the first enlisted Marine in World War II to earn the Congressional Medal of Honor for his heroism at Guadalcanal; and

Whereas, After arriving home to a hero's welcome, with a parade attended by more than 30,000 people and his picture on the cover of Life magazine, Sergeant Basilone chose to return to combat at Iwo Jima; and

Whereas, In the first wave of attack on Red Beach, Iwo Jima, Sergeant Basilone was killed by a mortar shell on February 19, 1945; and

Whereas, Sergeant Basilone was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross, the nation's second highest honor for heroism in battle, and a Purple Heart; and

Whereas, Sergeant Basilone is the only man in United States history to earn both the Congressional Medal of Honor and the Navy Cross, the nation's highest military honors; now, therefore,

Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of New Jersey:

1. The United States Postal Service is respectfully urged to issue a commemorative stamp honoring Marine Gunnery Sergeant John Basilone in recognition of his extraordinary heroism and conspicuous valor while in action against enemy forces in World War II.

2. A duly authenticated copy of this resolution, signed by the President of the Senate and attested to by the Secretary thereof, shall be transmitted to the Postmaster General of the United States and every member of Congress elected from this State.

STATEMENT

This Senate resolution urges the United States Postal Service to issue a commemorative stamp honoring Marine Gunnery Sergeant John Basilone in recognition of his extraordinary heroism and conspicuous valor while in action against enemy forces in World War II.