The Congressional Medal of Honor is the highest award that can be conferred on any soldier who shows exceptional valor during combat, what the US armed forces often call "action above and beyond the call of duty."
Basilone was given the medal for his efforts at the Battle for Henderson Field on Guadalcanal. Basilone and his small unit held off an attacking Japanese force of about 3,000 soldiers. During combat, Basilone himself ran between several M1917 machine guns under fire, delivering ammunition to them and also fixing them quickly when they jammed.