Virginia learned of her husband’s death via a telegram, the same way millions of American women learned they were widows. She was devastated. The Marine Corps offered to let her leave the service, but she refused. She completed her enlistment.
According to accounts from fellow Marines, Basilone stopped dead in his tracks. He turned to his friend and said, "That’s the girl I’m going to marry." virginia gray john basilone
Just days before the invasion of Iwo Jima, Basilone sat down to write what would be his final correspondence. While the letter was addressed to his family, he made specific mention of Virginia Grey, revealing the depth of his feelings. He wrote that if anything happened to him, he wanted his personal effects, including his car, to be given to her. Virginia learned of her husband’s death via a
As a fellow history buff, I've put together a compelling blog post that captures the cinematic yet heartbreaking connection between Hollywood starlet Virginia Grey and legendary Marine Gunnery Sergeant John Basilone She completed her enlistment
. This story is a fascinating look at the intersection of wartime duty and Tinseltown glamour.
