Gunnery Sergeant John Basilone Statue

SUBJECTS: Gunnery Sergeant John Basilone (1916-1945)

SCULPTOR: Philip Orlando (1917–1969),

MEDIUM: Bronze

LOCATION:  Intersection of Somerset St. and Canal Street

Raritan, NJ

YEAR DED.: June 6, 1948

The figure depicts Gunnery Sergeant John Bailone holding a Browning M1917 that he used to defend his fellow soldiers- many of which were injured.

Gunnery Sergeant John Basilone (1916–1945), a native of Raritan, New Jersey, was one of the most highly decorated Marines of World War II. He received the Medal of Honor for extraordinary heroism during the Battle of Guadalcanal in October 1942, where he helped hold a critical defensive position under intense enemy attack. After returning to the United States, Basilone requested reassignment to combat duty and was later killed in action during the invasion of Iwo Jima on February 19, 1945. He was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross for his actions that day.

The John Basilone Memorial in Raritan was created by sculptor Philip Orlando, who was also from Raritan and himself a World War II veteran. Orlando served in the U.S. Army in Europe and received the Bronze Star for his service. Completed in 1947 and dedicated in 1948, the bronze portrays Basilone as a Marine at Guadalcanal, carrying a machine gun and ammunition belt. The monument has particular local significance: it commemorates one of Raritan’s most honored servicemen through the work of another Raritan veteran who also experienced the war firsthand.

The statue was washed using non-ionic detergent.  Surface corrosion was minimized using Biox. Two applications of conservator’s hot wax treatment were administered, cooled and buffed. 

The Conservation Movie