Navy Commissions USS John Basilone to Celebrate WWII Hero's Legacy

The USS John Basilone, an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer named after a famous Marine who did extraordinary things in World War II, has been officially commissioned by the U.S. Navy. The event occurred on November 9 in New York, near where Basilone grew up. It was the Marine Corps' 249th birthday that same day. Leaders from the Navy and Marine Corps, such as Carlos Del Toro, Secretary of the Navy, and team members came together to pay their respects.

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Gunnery Sgt. John Basilone was born in Buffalo, New York, in 1916. He joined the Army first and then the Marine Corps in 1940. He became well-known for bravery in the Battle of Guadalcanal and was given the Medal of Honour. In the Marine Corps, his story is told to recruits as an example of bravery and leadership.

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The new USS John Basilone is a Flight IIA variant of the Arleigh Burke-class. It is meant to protect against threats from the air and the water and to provide crucial help in difficult battles. The original USS Basilone was a Gearing-class destroyer from 1949 to 1977 and was commissioned today. It was a part of essential operations like the Vietnam War and the Suez Canal issue.

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Secretary Del Toro talked about how important it was to honor Basilone's memory by talking about the problems we face now and how ready the destroyer is for those problems. His legacy and the spirit of service and struggle that lives on in the U.S. armed forces are shown by the USS John Basilone.

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