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World War II Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient
Corporal Anthony Casamento, USMC
Corporal Anthony Casamento was born 16 November 1920 in Manhattan, New York, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Casamento. On 12 September 1980, President Jimmy Carter presented the Medal of Honor to Casamento in a ceremony in the White House Rose Garden, 38 years after Casamento's heroism on Guadalcanal in 1942.
Corporal Casamento enlisted in the Marine Corps on 19 August 1940 in New York City. After completing recruit training at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot at Parris Island, South Carolina, Casamento was assigned to the 5th Marines of the 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 Corporal Casamento made the assault with Company D, 1st Battalion, 5th Marines.
On 1 November, 1942, while serving as a leader of a machine gun squad, Corporal Casamento's Marines came under heavy enemy fire near the Matanikau River. During the ensuing battle, all members of Casamento's unit were either killed or severely wounded. Despite his own multiple wounds, Corporal 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.
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 Casamento's heroism were still alive. That set in motion a chain of events that would ultimately result in Casamento receiving the Medal of Honor in 1980.
In addition to the Medal of Honor, Casamento's awards include the Purple Heart, the World War II Victory Medal, the American Campaign Medal, the Asiatic-Pacific Medal with two bronze stars, the Presidential Unit Citation and the American Defense Service Medal.
Casamento died 27 July 1987 in the VA hospital in Northport, New York, after a long illness.
In a White House ceremony, former Cpl Anthony Casamento, a machine gun squad leader in the 1st Battalion, 5th Marines, was decorated by President Jimmy Carter on August 22, 1980, 38 years after the battle for Guadalcanal. Looking on are Casamento's wife and daughters and Gen Robert H. Barrow, Marine Commandant.
CITATION:
Rank and organization: Corporal, Company D, First Battalion, Fifth Marines, First Marine Division. Place and date: Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands. Entered service at: Brooklyn, New York. Date and place of birth: 16 November 1920, Brooklyn, New York. For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving with Company D, 1st Battalion, 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division on Guadalcanal, British Solomon Islands, in action against the enemy Japanese forces on 1 November 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 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.
Courtesy of Find A Grave
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