What wonderful news for all proud Italian Americans! World War II hero John Basilone will be honored with a commemorative postage stamp in 2005 from the U.S. Postal Service. The design for the Basilone stamp has been approved, but the date of its unveiling has not been set. John Basilone was the only enlisted Marine in World War II to earn both the Medal of Honor and the Navy Cross, the nation's two highest military honors for bravery in battle. General Douglas MacArthur called him "a one man army" for his valor in a battle with a Japanese regiment during the Battle of Guadalcanal on October 24 - 25, 1942. During a fierce frontal attack with the Japanese, Sgt. Basilone was left with only two of his men. Under continual fire, he held off the enemy until replacements arrived. Later, with ammunition critically low and the supply of lines cut off, Sgt. Basilone battled his way though hostile lines with urgently needed shells for his gunners, thereby contributing in large measure to the virtual annihilation of a Japanese regiment. For his bravery, he was awarded the Medal of Honor and sent back to the United States where he helped raise more than $1 million in war bonds. He was offered a desk job in Washington, D.C. but preferred to return to his company. Shortly after returning to the Pacific war zone, Sgt. Basilone was killed during the battle of Iwo Jima in 1945. He was 29 years old. For his bravery in this battle, he was posthumously awarded the Naval Cross. He also received the Purple Heart and a Bronze Star.