The Navy’s newest Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer, named in honor of Marine legend Gunnery Sgt. John Basilone, was commissioned Saturday in New York.

The USS John Basilone became the 74th ship of her class, and the second ship named after the Medal of Honor recipient.

The ship was commissioned — in front of Marines from Basilone’s historic 1st Battalion, 7th Regiment — one day before the Corps celebrated its 249th birthday. The ceremony took place at Pier 88 in New York — Basilone was born in Buffalo, N.Y., and lived in New Jersey — between the USS Intrepid, Hell’s Kitchen and the NYC cruise terminal.

Also on hand were Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro; Basilone’s niece, Diane Hawkins; ship sponsors Ryan Manion and Amy Looney Heffernen, both from Gold Star families; the crew of the Basilone; and Marine Sgt. Dakota Meyer, a Medal of Honor recipient for his heroism in Iraq, who received a standing ovation after he was singled out by Del Toro.

“Gunnery Sgt. Basilone’s relentless valor on the battlefields of Guadalcanal and Iwo Jima represented the best America has to offer and are exemplary of the sailors and Marines serving today,” Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro said in a news release in advance of the ceremony. “USS John Basilone (is) named after one of the most decorated Marines in our nation’s history and will pay tribute to his legacy and the countless others who have served our country with distinction.”

Basilone received the Medal of Honor for his heroism during the Battle of Guadalcanal on Oct. 24-25, 1942.

According to his medal citation, on Oct. 24-25, 1942, Basilone and his unit came under attack from Japanese troops, who blasted Basilone’s two gun crews with grenades and mortar fire. Basilone ran between the lines to transport ammunition, all the while firing his own weapon and swinging a machete to fight off attackers.

“ ... with ammunition critically low and the supply lines cut off, Sgt. Basilone, at great risk of his life and in the face of continued enemy attack, battled his way through hostile lines with urgently needed shells for his gunners, thereby contributing in large measure to the virtual annihilation of a Japanese regiment,” the citation reads. “His great personal valor and courageous initiative were in keeping with the highest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service.”

Basilone, who had earlier served in the Army, returned home but soon requested a return to combat. On Feb. 19, 1945, Basilone was killed in action leading an assault off the beaches of Iwo Jima. He was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross. Basilone is the only enlisted Marine to be honored with both the Navy Cross and the Medal of Honor.

“Marines are known for their perseverance and loyalty to one another. Perhaps no Marine exemplified these traits better than Gunnery Sgt. John Basilone, the only enlisted Marine in World War II to be awarded both the Medal of Honor and the Navy Cross,” said 20th Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps Carlos Ruiz. “As a true Marine Corps legend, it is fitting that this highly capable warship, led by an equally exceptional crew, will bear his name.”

Arleigh Burke-class destroyers are the backbone of the Navy’s surface fleet. These multi-mission ships conduct a variety of operations, from peacetime presence to national security. Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers provide a wide range of warfighting capabilities in multi-threat air, surface and subsurface environments. They host dual helicopter hangars, allowing for expanded anti-submarine, anti-surface and anti-air warfare capabilities through integrated operations with helicopter squadrons.

The destroyer will be homeported in Mayport, Fla., the Navy said.

previous coverage

• Navy receives warship named for Marine Corps legend John Basilone
• New Jersey town celebrates Marine awarded the Medal of Honor

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• Marines around the world celebrate the Corps’ 249th birthday