Basilone is a legend in American military history. He served in both the United States Army and the United States Marine Corps. He is known for his courageous exploits and acts of bravery during World War II, notably the Battle of Henderson Field in Guadalcanal, where his unit endured heavy gunfire from an estimated 3000 Japanese soldiers and numerous waves of hellacious attacks by Japanese troops. He commanded “two heavy .30-caliber machine gun sections from First Battalion, Seventh Marines, that were tasked with holding a narrow pass at the Tenaru River.”

Basilone was outgunned and outmanned in a battle that lasted the entire night. Despite these odds, he held off the Japanese from advancing, suffering severe wounds himself in the battle. Heroically, when reinforcements arrived, Basilone and two other Marines were the only remaining people alive in the unit. Nearly all of the Japanese forces that had attacked Basilone were killed in the fighting. Basilone received the United States military’s highest award for valor, the Medal of Honor for his heroism, courage, bravery, and accomplishment. He was later killed in action in 1945 during the Battle of Iwo Jima.

“The John Basilone (DDG 122) is the 72nd Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer and the second ship in the United States Navy named in honor of Marine Corps Gunnery Sergeant John Basilone,” read a statement on the ship’s website.

Also, the ceremony for the ship’s commissioning took place with the 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment of the 1st Marine Division in attendance – the unit Basilone served in during World War II. And, given Basilone’s reputation and heroic legacy, there might also be some symbolism in having an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer named after Basilone. 

“Arleigh Burke-class destroyers are the backbone of the Navy’s surface fleet,” Stars and Stripes reported. “These multi-mission ships conduct a variety of operations, from peacetime presence to national security. Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers provide a wide range of warfighting capabilities in multi-threat air, surface, and subsurface environments. They host dual helicopter hangars, allowing for expanded anti-submarine, anti-surface, and anti-air warfare capabilities through integrated operations with helicopter squadrons.” 

Additionally, Basilone was of Italian American heritage and is regularly cited as one of the country’s greatest Italian American heroes. Given this legacy, it only made sense that the National Italian American Foundation helped sponsor the commissioning of the USS John Basilone. 

“Gunnery Sargeant John Basilone is arguably the paramount American hero of the Second World War, Robert Allegrini, president of the National Italian American Foundation, told the Washington Examiner. “He was the war’s only recipient of both the Congressional Medal of Honor and the Navy Cross. He was an outstanding representative of the Italian American principles of patriotism, valor, sacrifice, commitment, and selflessness. As such, it seemed entirely natural and appropriate for the National Italian American Foundation to support the commissioning of a ship named for John Basilone.”  

“Our mission is to celebrate and advance the inspiring achievements and uplifting values of the Italian culture and presence in America,” Allegrini said. “John Basilone was the perfect embodiment of those achievements and values.” 

The U.S. Navy reported that the USS John Basilone will be homeported in Mayport, Florida.