FReeper Canteen ~ Hall of Heroes: Anthony Casamento ~ 21 September 2026

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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! 

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TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News; Free Republic
KEYWORDS: canteen; heroes; military; troopsupport

[radu]

Greetings to all at the Canteen!

To all our military men and women, past and present,

[radu]

Howdy, Kathy.

Internet up and running smoothly again?

[PROCON]

Thanks for tonight’s Canteen and honoring this Hero, Kathy!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good eveing, radu...tech guy came about 11:30a. Found the broken cable outside, but other parts that were REALLY old, and some not used any more. He cleaned it all up and put in a new cable. Work computer and living room TV are now connected to the internet. Personal computer and TV in the room are both back online. No amount of persuation would get the laptop online. I’ll call the Geek Squad later and see if they can fix it.

[radu]

HOwdy, PRO!

How are things up your way? Any plans yet for a trip to the shooting range with your son?

[Jet Jaguar]

Thanks for posting this!

((HUGS))

[radu]

Good. He got there fairly early. I gather it was as we suspected? Broken by the crazy winds earlier in the week?

Nice to have almost everything working again. Wonder what’s up with the laptop now.

[Kathy in Alaska]

~ Hall of Heroes: Anthony Casamente ~

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[PROCON]

Hiya radu!

Fall weather is upon us, 80 in the PM and much cooler now.

Going to the range is all up to my son and his work schedule but you can believe we'll be going soon!

I hope you and the lil' furballs are doing OK.

[radu]

Lucky you, getting to enjoy that weather. We have another two days in the oven, then we get to enjoy early-fall temps too. I can’t wait! It’s been stifling here.

I didn’t know if your son had checked his work schedule yet to see when he’d be able to head out to the range. I know you’re both antsy to get back out there for some fun.

All’s going well enough here. The kittehs are all doing well, presently, and I hope that trend continues for a long while.

[luvie]

Corporal Anthony Casamento
November 16, 1920 - July 18, 1987
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.

[luvie]

Hi, Kathy! Good to know that the tech man got there a bit early and got that cable all repaired and that it restored the computers.

Too bad about your laptop. Hope that’s easily fixed. It’s not that old...right?

[radu]

Howdy, luvie.

Hope your day was good.

Ready for Tuesday as much as I am for Wednesday? COOLDOWN!!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, JJ..glad you enjoyed. ((HUGS))

Are you ready to say goodbye to the summer?

[luvie]

Hey there, radu!

Yes I totally AM ready for Tuesday! Had kind of a preview this morning, because it was only 71 when I first got up. It was 88 or so right after worship ended and didn’t start heating up till about 4pm. Then it skyrocketed up to 94. Made me so mad! LOL!

I know you are more than ready, too. It really HAS been a summer from hell!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Age and wind, but he also said maybe a weed whacker might have helped it...perceptive. LOL!!

I have to work tonight, so will think about the laptop later.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, luvie, and thanks for helping honor our hero.

The laptop is rather old, but I have a new one that is not set up.

I’m getting closer to having the Geek Squad come to the house and get it set up so I’ll have the bells and whistles right next to my work computer.
Until then I will have to go back and forth to another room to check email and FR, etc. 😂

[radu]

Not too bad a day there overall. It was already 94 here when I woke up this afternoon.

We had a little luck though. Rain and storms came through around 4:30 and cooled things off a little. The wind really kicked up here but it didn’t rain long.
Word had gone out at the festival and people were already starting to tear down, even though the festival wasn’t supposed to end until 5:00. Aaaaaaand, they got a sprinkle. The storm passed by to the east through the mountains.

They got some tonight, about an hour ago. That blew up south of here so I missed out.

Indeed, I am ready for Wednesday!

[luvie]

Since it’s a laptop, can’t you just move it around to where you want or need it at the time? That’s what I’ve always loved about them. They don’t have to stay in one place all the time.