In mid-March, the intertwined lives of three U.S. Marines and what they had to face as the Second World War raged around them are being told through the HBO series The Pacific. There is only so much, though, that ten hours can share, so it may be worth our while to look a little bit more into the lives of these men.

Gunnery Sgt. John Basilone is being played by actor Jon Seda in the series. The real John Basilone was born in Buffalo, New York, on November 4, 1916, the sixth of ten children of Italian immigrants Salvatore and Dora Basilone. He was raised in Raritan, New Jersey, where he attended St. Bernard Parochial School.

At 18, Basilone enlisted in the United States Army and was sent to the Philippines, where he served for three years. He loved to talk about his experience in Manila, which eventually led to his nickname – “Manila John.” He was honorably discharged in 1937, but enlisted in the Marines in 1940.

Basilone earned his Medal of Honor during the Battle at Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands. His citation described how Basilone had valiantly fought against an assault by the Japanese despite being outnumbered by the enemy while defending Henderson Field, as shared in posts on the Arlington Cemetery Web site.

For his heroism he was awarded the Medal of Honor; he went home, toured the country and was able to help raise war-bond – but eventually asked to go back to the War, saying: “I ain’t no officer, and I ain’t no museum piece. I belong back with my outfit.”

Before going back to the Pacific, he met, fell in love with, and married fellow USMC Sgt. Lena Riggi in 1944. He shipped out to the War before Christmas.

On February 19, 1945, he succumbed to injuries sustained in an artillery blast – but not before single-handedly taking out an enemy blockhouse. He was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross and the Purple Heart, and earned the distinction of being the only Marine in the Second World War to receive all three medals.