MISSION STATEMENT

The Sgt. John Basilone Foundation was started by Gunnery Sergeant Basilone's family to honor his legacy. Our mission is to preserve his memory and help support those veterans who suffer from the effects of post-traumatic stress. Many veterans, if not all, who have deployed to foreign lands in the service of their country have returned changed as a result. The Sgt. John Basilone Foundation seeks to provide veterans access to treatment that will provide them with coping skills for dealing with their post-traumatic stress. Focus will be on holistic treatments that will positively impact the outlook on their lives as they transition from military to civilian life. This "treatment" can be best described as "Movement is Medicine!" Research has shown that a yoga practice can help relieve symptoms associated with post-traumatic stress such as psychological distress, anxiety and sadness. 

The Sgt. John Basilone Foundation also seeks to change the public's perspective on how to refer to what is clinically diagnosed as Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). According to the Rand Center for Military Health Policy Research approximately 18.5 percent of returning service members from Iraq and Afghanistan have PTSD. PTSD is defined as an anxiety disorder that may occur after exposure to traumatic event such as military combat, violence, or a natural calamity. The Sgt. John Basilone Foundation, as did Presidents Obama and George W. Bush, prefers to drop the "D." By inferring that those veterans who suffer the effects of post-traumatic stress have a disorder, the Sgt. John Basilone Foundation feels it instead stigmatizes the veterans and may have the negative effect of dissuading them from seeking treatment for post-traumatic stress. In simple terms, when you label, you limit.  Comedian George Carlin perhaps best addressed this use of what he coined "soft language" to describe veterans' reaction to combat:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vuEQixrBKCc&t=25s.

By serving those who have gone to war by seeking holistic treatment for their symptoms we feel we will best accomplish our mission to improve their lives, the lives of their family, and to carry on Gunnery Sergeant John Basilone's legacy of helping others. We're proud to carry on our new mission statement by continuing to help "John's boys."

ABOUT GUNNERY SGT. JOHN BASILONE

After receiving the Medal of Honor for his service in World War II, Gunnery Sgt. Basilone was sent on a war bond tour by the Marine Corps and then transferred to Marine Corps Headquarters and given a desk job. After the war bond tour John requested a return to operating forces so he could fight in the war but was denied. His second request, to train Marines at Camp Pendleton, California, was approved.

There he met his wife, Sgt. Lena Riggi of the Marine Corps Women's Reserve. Lena and John were married on 10 July 1944.  John requested to return to the Pacific Theater of Operations, which was approved, and he was assigned to Company C, First Battalion, 27th Marine Regiment, 5th Marine Division, as it prepared for the invasion of Iwo Jima. John was killed in action on the first day,19 February 1945, but not before performing heroic actions for which he was posthumously awarded a Navy Cross. John was the only enlisted Marine to receive both the Medal of Honor and Navy Cross during World War II.

John Basilone is remembered more than 75 years after he died because of his unselfish dedication to "his boys." In his memory, the foundation works to honor John's legacy and support those veterans suffering from the symptoms of post-traumatic stress. We've been helping others for more than 10 years and we're very proud to fulfill our mission statement and accomplish it by funding to support holistic treatment programs to treat post-traumatic stress and deter veterans from choosing a permanent solution to a temporary problem.

BOARD MEMBERS

Diane Basilone Hawkins, President - NY (Niece of John Basilone; daughter of his sister Dolores)
Sophie Kay, Board Member ‑ CT
Henry Bodden, Board Member ‑ OK
Dennis Lynn Covert (former Sailor), Board Member - IN
Al Frater (former Marine), Board Member ‑ NJ
Chris Randazzo (former Marine), Board Member ‑ NJ

CONTACT US TO LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR VETERANS' FOUNDATION AND HOW WE SUPPORT OUR TROOPS.

AFFILIATIONS

CONTACT US TO LEARN MORE ABOUT HOW YOU CAN HELP US PROVIDE SUPPORT TO THOSE WHO HAVE SACRIFICED FOR OUR COUNTRY.