Hero of the Pacific_ The Life of Marine Legend John Basilone - James Brady [69]
“During the time that John was home after the big celebration [of September 19] he made special visits that those present will always remember. In between public appearances, John got some relaxation, visiting neighbors, feeling somewhat like a regular guy again.
“One weekday, John took time to pay a special visit to his niece Janice’s school. . . . Janice was the niece who climbed on his lap at the rally on Basilone Day and had her picture on the front page of the newspaper. Janice, now 65, when interviewed for this [Doorly’s] book, lit up and described how special that day was when her Uncle John, everyone’s hero, came to visit ‘her’ kindergarten class. He talked with kids and shook hands with many teachers. The whole school was excited and she was a very proud five year old. While Janice says she has only vague memories of the parade and rally on Basilone Day, and no specific memories of sitting on John’s lap at the rally, she remembers vividly his visit to her school.
“One night on leave, John stopped by the local tavern, Orlando’s. The owner, Tony Orlando, was very dedicated to the local servicemen. He posted their pictures on the wall, wrote them letters, sent them packages. To have John Basilone, Raritan’s hero, stop in to socialize, was an honor for the Orlando Tavern. All eyes and attention that night were on John. His drinks were, of course, ‘on the house.’”
Another favorite local hangout, for Pop Basilone’s generation more than the son’s, was the Star of Italy Mutual Aid Society building on Anderson Street. This was an outfit that helped recently arrived immigrant Italians to get started in America. Since Basilone was officially still “under orders,” even on leave, he was pressed into service, speaking to an audience of a hundred about the appeal, patriotic as well as financial, of war bonds. The club’s president, Charles Franchino, recalled young Basilone as “likable, regular” and, according to Doorly, Franchino was surprised to hear Manila John talking during his leave about wanting to get “back into action,” and asked why. Basilone, possibly having fun and kidding an older civilian, said, because he liked the feel of firing a machine gun.
It wasn’t all small-town, back-home camaraderie, laughter, dinner dates, and drinks on the house. Basilone was no longer on the war bond tour hustling sales, but the publicity mill, like the war itself, ground on.
“Basilone was featured on the radio a few times toward the end of 1943,” Doorly recalls. “The NBC show entitled ‘Marine Story’ had John talk about his experience at Guadalcanal. Legendary Ed Sullivan, who had a variety show on radio, similar to his later TV show, had John Basilone on the air. Ed and John would come to know each other as ‘friends.’ They met at a bond rally at the Capital Theatre in New York where Sullivan was the master of ceremonies. At this rally, John spoke to the crowd about his Division’s action on Guadalcanal. When he finished he received a standing ovation that lasted several minutes. Ed Sullivan wrote a few times about John in his newspaper column for the New York Daily News [then the biggest circulation newspaper in the country selling three million copies per day], John wrote that ‘Ed went out of the way to do things for me and he took pleasure in whatever he did. I shall never forget him and his sincere friendship.’ Even years after John’s death, Ed Sullivan continued sending John’s family free tickets to his newly launched and successful TV show. John’s sister Dolores recalled Ed to be very personable and caring.”
Phyllis Basilone Cutter recalled her brother’s new love affair with New York, the big city just across the Hudson a few miles (and a world) east of little hometown Raritan. “New York, supposedly the city without feeling, took me into her heart. Every door was open