World War II hero honored in annual Raritan memorial parade

RARITAN ? U.S. Marine 1st Sgt. Gerardo Ybarra has been driven by the spirit of World War II hero "Manila John" Basilone since the day he entered boot camp nearly 18 years ago.

Tales of the Marine gunnery sergeant fending off Japanese troops at Guadalcanal inspired Ybarra to become a machine gunner like his hero. And those legendary exploits buoyed Ybarra during deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Today, Basilone drew Ybarra to Raritan, where he was among the thousands of spectators who packed Somerset Street for the 31st annual John Basilone parade.

"I never thought I?d be standing here, seeing his family," said Ybarra, an Oregon native now stationed at Picatinny Arsenal in Morris County. "It?s electric. It?s hard to put it into words."

For residents of Raritan, the annual half-mile march toward the borough?s John Basilone statue is a ritual that has become ingrained in Raritan?s culture. It?s not just a memorial for a fallen war hero; it?s become a celebration of the community itself.

Some residents today viewed the parade from their shaded front porches, while others had barbecues on their lawns. Many of the 3,000-plus attendees stayed for a memorial service that featured guest speaker Marine Lt. Gen. Robert Milstead Jr. The service also honored Donald Basilone, the only surviving sibling of Basilone, and grand marshal Dominic Porcaro, a Raritan native and Navy veteran who died in July.

But for Marines, Basilone and his parade are reminders of the standards and courage expected of anyone in the Marine Corps.

Basilone, who was born in Buffalo, N.Y., was awarded the Medal of Honor after he helped resist a Japanese attack during the Battle of Guadalcanal in 1942. That heroism also brought him instant national fame. The war hero, however, would be killed three years later at Iwo Jima, at age 28. He was the only Marine in World War II to earn both the Navy Cross and the Medal of Honor. His story was most recently memorialized by HBO?s 2010 series "The Pacific."

"He represents, for us, the warrior spirit," Milstead Jr. told the crowd from a bandstand near Raritan?s Basilone statue. "Thank you for keeping the spirit of courage alive."

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Source: http://www.nj.com/somerset/index.ssf/2012/09/world_war_ii_hero_honored_in_a.html

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