Casamento, Anthony “Toney”, born 16-11-1920, in Manhattan, New York County, 
New York, United States.
In the 1930 census, Anthony (age 9) was the son of Charles Casamento at Manhattan, New York, New York, United States.
On August 19-08-1940, Anthony Casamento enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. After basic training at Paris Island, South Carolina, he was assigned to 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division 
. under command of Brigadier General Holland McTyeire “Howland Mad” Smith 
Six months after the attack on Pearl Harbor, 
he was deployed to the southwest Pacific for the initial invasion of Japanese-held territory. The attack on Pearl Harbor was a surprise strike by the Imperial Japanese Navy, under the command of Admiral Isoroku Takano Yamamoto, 
against the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. It took place on Sunday, 07-12-1941, at 17:55 UTC (occurring in the morning in Hawaii, at 12:55 EST in Washington D.C., and in the early morning of Monday, December 8, in Japan. The attack was intended to destroy the bulk of the United States fleet, thereby giving Japan a free hand in the Pacific Ocean. In the attack, 2,403 Americans lost their lives and 1,282 were wounded. Japanese losses were significantly lower, with 65 military personnel killed or wounded. One Japanese sailor was taken prisoner.
A Corporal at the time, Toney Casamento took part in the famed Marine assault on Guadalcanal on 07-08-1942, when about 6,000 American Marines (under the command of Major General Alexander Archer Vandegrift
of the 1st Marine Division) landed on Guadalcanal, Tulagi, and Florida. On November 1 of that year, while serving as a leader of a machine gun squad, Corporal Casamento’s unit came under heavy fire near the Matanikau River. During the ensuing battle, all members of his unit were either killed or severely wounded. Despite his own injuries, Toney Casamento heroically held the enemy at bay, thereby protecting the flanks of adjoining companies.
Anthony was moved to a medical aid station. He was eventually shipped back to the United States and treated at the Naval Hospital in Oakland, California.
Citation for his Medal of Honor : For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving with Company D, First Battalion, Fifth Marines, First Marine Division on Guadalcanal, British Solomon Islands, in action against the enemy Japanese forces on 01-11-1942. 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 singlehandedly 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 U.S. Naval Service.
Death and burial ground of Casamento, Anthony “Toney”.
Casamento, Anthony “Toney”. paswsed away on 18-07-1987 (aged 66), in Northport, Suffolk County, New York, United States. and is buried at the Long Island National Cemetery, East Farmingdale, Suffolk County, New York. 2040 Wellwood Avenue, Farmingdale, NY 11735, New York. Distinguished Service Section, Site 79A.
Leave a Reply