we got sergeant john bazalone u s marine corps guadalcanal 1942 august 1942 the first marine division landed on guadalcanal encountering stiff resistance from the japanese defenders sergeant john basilone served as a machine gun platoon sergeant in support of company c first battalion seventh marines on the night of 24 october sergeant basilone’s platoon occupied a key position in the battalion’s offensive perimeter on a jungle ridge just past 2130 the japanese began a ferocious attack in the dark rainy night intense fighting followed and soon the machine gun unit on basilone’s right was overrun by screaming japanese soldiers hurling grenades and firing rifles at the same time basilone’s machine guns started running low on ammunition basilone knew that the enemy that had broken through on his right were between him and the ammunition dump but he decided that if his gun teams were not resupplied the positions would fall sergeant bazillon took off his heavy mud caked boots stripped himself of all unnecessary gear and sprinted down the trail after returning with several belts of ammunition he set out for the unmanned machine gun pits to his right knowing that those heavy weapons were vital tools in the defense of the ridge when he got back to the gun positions he found two unoccupied machine guns jammed and ran back to get one of his own he ordered a team to follow him after bazillon’s gun crew reached their destination he immediately put them into action basilone lay on the ground and began repairing one of the damaged weapons once the gun was repaired and loaded he got behind the gun and began engaging targets the fight raged on and japanese bodies began to pile up in front of the machine guns at one point sergeant basilone had to direct his marines to push back the piles of bodies to maintain clear fields of fire several more times during the night sergeant basilone made trips back to the command area for desperately needed ammunition eight separate attacks were sent against the marines that night and basilone’s platoon fired over 25 000 rounds they were credited with killing an estimated 300 enemy soldiers playing a major role in thwarting the japanese attack this successful defense re-established the perimeter of the first marine division protected the vital airfield and led to the conquest of guadalcanal the first island taken from the japanese for his initiative resourcefulness and leadership in defense of the ridge sergeant basilone was awarded the medal of honor lessons tactically sergeant basilone understood his role in the defense of the ridge and the intent of the company and battalion commanders his machine gun served a pivotal role in the company and battalion defense line plan he took numerous actions necessary to ensure his battalion’s success this included making the decision to weaken one position in order to fortify an adjacent unit’s position to his right sergeant bazalone exhibited great leadership during the defense he went to great lengths to provide his unit with whatever tools were necessary to maintain the defense of the ridge his courage in braving enemy fire to deliver ammunition set an example for his marines unbelievable it’s it’s interesting when you think about their low on ammunition and his decision is i’m going to get i’m going to go personally get the ammunition and i can see a couple factors playing into that decision one of them being if we don’t have ammo we’re all going to die so it doesn’t matter you know i could send another guy but and i could stay here to try and help you know maintain our position but without without ammunition we’re all going to die so the number one thing we need is ammunition and these guys know what they’re doing they got this but without bullets we’re going to get overrun i’m going to do this that’s uh it’s an interesting thing because you know sometimes leaders got to say okay this is what’s going on here’s the absolutely critical task and i’m actually just going to go do it right now because if it doesn’t get done we’re all doomed taking off his boots that’s a that’s a hard thing for me to think about because my feet are soft man i think every time we turned on basilone road you know up there at camp pendleton going our ranges and and training uh you just think about think about uh you know the exploits of john basil that’s that’s incredible i you know i think the other thing too to think about here is these other these other illustrations we’re looking at i mean obviously amazing illustrations of a junior leader you know squad leader stepping up and making these calls but you know the previous ones in world war one and two you were talking about you know look vicious fighting obviously people are dying and and being uh you know shot and blown up or banded or whatever but those particular charges bonsai charges like that in in uh in guadalcanal like there’s zero quarters going to be given so you’re overrun and like everyone’s gonna get killed and and i think uh you know i think that was uh it’s a different situation you know uh and i think a lot more desperation there you can’t just throw up your hands and surrender like the germans did to sergeant your corporal york in that particular situation yeah i mean i almost didn’t even make it past the sentence in the dark rainy night intense fighting followed and soon the machine gun unit on bazalon’s right was overrun by screaming japanese soldiers hurling grenades and firing rifles just dark and when you’re in dark and especially in a jungle like that and it’s dark outside and then you shoot your gun and now you’ve seen the muzzle flash like you can’t you can’t see anything now like it’s dark it’s black and so now the only thing you’re hearing is screaming japanese they’re throwing grenades which again is ruining your night vision you’re seeing muzzle flashes you’re shooting back at muzzle flashes freaking just horror it’s just horror yeah that’s some unbelievable heroism there i i think you’re hitting on a good point though about prior the prioritizing execute piece and i think you know we generally would say leaders don’t want to be down on the details you want to be detached but you know to your point if you in the prioritized and execute scene if i don’t go do this now none of it matters we have to do that and uh it’s the existential priority yeah if if we don’t execute this priority we will not exist anymore it’s an existential decision and there’s only you look and he probably looked said you know i got this guy he’s working that gun he can do that there’s one person that could actually make this happen right now and it’s me i’ll be back in seven minutes with some ammo fellas bazzy
My WordPress Blog