FReeper Canteen ~ Hall of Heroes: Anthony Casamento ~ 04 October 2021

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[Kathy in Alaska]

 

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---

~ Hall of Heroes ~

Anthony Casamento
Info from here.

           

Corporal Anthony Casamento, (November 16, 1920 - July 18, 1987) was presented the Medal of Honor by President Jimmy Carter on September 12, 1980 in a ceremony in the White House Rose Garden, 38 years after Cpl Casamento's heroism on Guadalcanal in 1942.

Casamento was born November 16, 1920 in Manhattan, New York. He enlisted in the Marine Corps on August 19, 1940 in New York City. After completing recruit training at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, South Carolina, he was assigned to the 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division.

Six months after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, the 5th Marines was on its way to the southwest Pacific to take part in the initial invasion of Japanese-held territory as part of the 1st Marine Division. The Marine landing on Guadalcanal began in August 1942 and Cpl Casamento made the assault with Company D, 1st Battalion, 5th Marines.

On November 1, 1942, while serving as a leader of a machine gun squad in an attack on Japanese positions, Cpl Casamento's Marines came under heavy enemy fire near the Matanikau River. During the ensuing battle, all members of the unit were either killed or severely wounded. Despite his own multiple wounds, Cpl Casamento continued to provide supporting fire and heroically held the enemy at bay, thereby protecting the flanks of adjoining companies until he was physically unable to continue.

Corporal Casamento was treated at a medical aid station, then shipped back to the United States and admitted to the naval hospital in Oakland, California.

In 1964, it was learned that two eyewitnesses to Cpl Casamento's heroism were still alive. That set in motion a chain of events that would ultimately result in his receiving the Medal of Honor in 1980.

Corporal Casamento died July 18, 1987 in the VA hospital in Northport, New York, after a long illness.

In addition to the Medal of Honor, Cpl Casamento's awards include the Purple Heart, the Presidential Unit Citation, the American Defense Service Medal, the American Campaign Medal, the Asiatic-Pacific Medal with two bronze stars (for Guadalcanal-Tulagi Landings and Capture and Defense of Guadalcanal), and the World War II Victory Medal

 

The President of the United States in the name of The Congress takes pleasure in presenting the MEDAL OF HONOR to

CORPORAL ANTHONY CASAMENTO UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS

for service as set forth in the following CITATION:

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving with Company "D", First Battalion, Fifth Marines, First Marine Division on Guadalcanal, British Solomon Islands, in action against the enemy Japanese forces on November 1, 1942. Serving as a leader of a machine gun section, Corporal Casamento directed his unit to advance along a ridge near the Matanikau River where they engaged the enemy. He positioned his section to provide covering fire for two flanking units and to provide direct support for the main force of his company which was behind him. During the course of this engagement, all members of his section were either killed or severely wounded and he himself suffered multiple, grievous wounds. Nonetheless, Corporal Casamento continued to provide critical supporting fire for the attack and in defense of his position. Following the loss of all effective personnel, he set up, loaded, and manned his unit's machine gun, tenaciously holding the enemy forces at bay. Corporal Casamento single-handedly engaged and destroyed one machine gun emplacement to his front and took under fire the other emplacement on the flank. Despite the heat and ferocity of the engagement, he continued to man his own weapon and repeatedly repulsed multiple assaults by the enemy forces, thereby protecting the flanks of the adjoining companies and holding his position until the arrival of his main attacking force. Corporal Casamento's courageous fighting spirit, heroic conduct, and unwavering dedication to duty reflected great credit upon himself and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.

/S/ JIMMY CARTER

A park in West Islip, NY (his postwar residence) is named after him as is a stretch of highway in Farmingdale, NY.  

Please remember the Canteen is here to honor, support and entertain our troops and their families.  This is a politics-free zone!  Thanks for helping us in our mission! 

[Kathy in Alaska]

Raking leaves off my driveway. Wanna help?

[MoJo2001]

I would love to help, but I’m hiding my dinosaur from the HOA. Maybe next time! LOL!

[MoochPooch]

Evening, Kathy! Thanks for another great bio.

[radu]

Glad to hear you got to enjoy nice weather a little longer.
sheesh on the 90s that lie ahead. Too late for that!

We only got up to 72 today and finally got some rain late in the afternoon. The “cold” front is creeping through slowly but it isn’t going to cool things off much. Just keep the temps in the 70s until the weekend.

Yes, he finally got the AC going again around 5 this afternoon. Good thing because it will be close to 80 tomorrow.

[luvie]

Your “nearly 80” probably feels a lot like our “barely 90” LOL! Glad he got the AC fixed! Don’t need that hassle hanging over your head.

I just want summer to be G O N E !!! LOL

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, Mooch...another hero for sure.

[E.G.C.]

A very pleasant good Monday morning and ((HUGS)) to everyone at the Canteen and to all our military at home and abroad. Thanks for your service to our country.

How's everyone doing this morning?

[radu]

You’re probably right. We have chances for rain the next couple of days so it’ll be muggy, and that makes it feel warmer.
We’re good to go now at least. Whew!

[radu]

Howdy, E.G.C. ((HUGZ))

Did you and Gizmo have a grand time at the lake yesterday?
KFC or Sonic for supper?

[luvie]

What a relief that has to be! Mugginess averted!

Meanwhile, it’s 64 degrees here now, and I’m so sleepy from my early morning. I think I’ll head out a bit early. See ya tomorrow!

[E.G.C.]

We had KFC for supper.

We also had a great visit to Comanche Lake yesterday. I had to untangle the leash at one point though because Gizmo decided he wanted to zig zag around the bushes.((LOL))

[radu]

A huge relief. It was hot and humid in here last night and I didn’t sleep well. Much better tonight.

It’s 68 here with fog that comes and goes. Wet air.

Enjoy sleeping in! :-)

[radu]

That’s a big ol’ pile of food you got for supper. After all the running around you did, I’ll bet you were ready to chow down. LOL

Gizmo can be a little stinker, can’t he, tangling the leash in the bushes. :-)

[luvie]

Howdyyyy doooo, Early'ish Birds!
Three cheers for that brave hero!
...and ALL the heroes that sacrifice for US!
It is such a perfect day today.
Coolish, sunny and a slight breeze.
Feels like fall.
90s later this week tell another story.
Well, anyhoooo...y'all have a Mahv'lus Monday!
...and a Wonderful Week!
(((hugs)))

[luvie]

Well, I was going to pick my favorite pic of Gizmo, but because FB is down, the pictures aren’t available right now. Bummer!

[E.G.C.]

Yep, I noticed. Hopefully it’ll come back up soon.

[luvie]

It’s been down for hours. Probably, according to the news stream I’m modding for, the longest outage they’ve had to date. Crazy, huh!

[luvie]

I did “catch” Coal getting a bite to eat and went out and petted her and told her how glad I was to see her and she should come back often. She is such a sweetie.

[E.G.C.]

Yep. Now, I do also have an account on Gab and I just posted today's Comanche Lake pics there. Here are today's pics

I know these pics seem a little large but that is how Gab has it set up. When Facebook gets back up, I will return to posting there.

[luvie]

No worries about the size. They are great pictures! I like ‘em all!