DOB/DOD: June 6, 1925 (Beacon Falls, CT) – February 19, 1945; 19 years old
MARITAL STATUS: Unmarried
LOCAL ADDRESS: 65 Railroad Avenue, Beacon Falls
ENLISTMENT: August 31, 1943, in Springfield, Massachusetts
SERVICE NUMBER: 891464
UNIT: Battery E, 13th Marines, 5th Marine Division
MILITARY OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTY: 0603, Field Artillery Crewman
FAMILY: Born to Anthony (1893-1970) and Josephine “Josie” Esposite DelVecchio (1900-1927). Anthony was born in Scafati, Italy, and Josephine in Philadelphia. Youngest of five children. Siblings are Josephine DelVecchio Fuoco (1917-2002), Pasquale [Patsy] (1919-2006), Frank (1921-2014), and Anthony (1923-2004). 1, 2
CIRCUMSTANCES: Boot camp at Parris Island, South Carolina, Training at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, then Camp Pendleton, Oceanside, California. In or around January 1945, he was assigned to his final unit, 5th Marine Division, 13th Marines, 2nd Battalion. 6 Killed on the first day of the invasion, February 19th, from a gunshot wound to the abdomen. 7
Photos of Private First Class DelVecchio, his Purple Heart Medal, and his certificate were contributed by Frank DelVecchio.
From The Naugatuck Daily News on March 15, 1945
Pvt Albert DelVecchio Died of Wounds In Fierce Fighting on Iwo Jima
Member of Crack Fifth Division Was Only 19 Years Old – Letter Received, was Mailed Before Marines Moved Into Island
Private Albert DelVecchio, the 19-year-old son of Anthony DelVecchio of 6t5 Railroad Avenue, Beacon Falls, a member of the Fifth Marine Division, has been reported killed in action on Iwo Jima, apparently during the second day of fighting, according to word received by his father from the Navy Department yesterday. The telegram stated that the Beacon Falls Marine died of wounds believed received while the Fourth Division made their initial gains after the first hours of fighting. The Marines hit the Iwo Jima beaches at 7 p.m. on the night of February 18th, and the Beacon Falls Marine died on the 19th, the telegram indicated. According to United Press correspondents on the scene on the 19th of February, the Japs put up resistance, which was not equaled by the fighting at Tarawa and Saipan. The Island of Iwo Jima was honeycombed with Jap pillboxes and trenches in which the enemy lay in wait for the U.S. Marines. Today, the Stars and Stripes were formally raised over Iwo as a sign of one of the greatest Marine victories in American history, and for the first time, American planes took off from the three important airfields on a bombing mission on Japan proper. Army, Navy, and Marine Corps planes are now operating in full scale from the Island of Iwo Jima, which has left a total of 30,000 dead Japs and 6,000 Americans, unofficial reports state. Private DelVecchio entered the service in September of 1943 and received his basic training at Parris Island, SC. He was shipped overseas in September 1944. His mother last heard from him on the 22nd of February, three days after the date on which he was killed. The letter was dated January 21st, and he stated that his outfit was about to begin one of the largest major operations in history. It did not mention Iwo Jima. The Beacon Falls Marine attended schools in that town, and he was an altar boy at St. Michael’s Church. Prior to enlisting in the service, he was employed at the U.S. Rubber Co. plant here.
From The Naugatuck Daily News on January 26, 1949
MARINE HERO BURIED TODAY
PFC DelVecchio Killed in Action At Iwo Jima
Impressive military funeral services for PFC Albert J. DelVecchio, U.S. Marines, who was killed in action in the invasion of Iwo Jima, were held this morning from the Buckmiller Funeral Home, 22 Park Place, to St. Michael’s Church, Beacon Falls. The Reverend Jerome Cooke, a pastor of St. Michael’s Church, celebrated the requiem high Mass at 9 o’clock. Richard Zullo rendered Funeral March, Panis Angelleus, and Vale accompanied by Mrs. Jere McCarthy, organist, who also played Lead Kindly Light and The Star-Spangled Banner. The body of PFC Anthony DelVecchio, 66 Railroad Avenue, Beacon Falls, arrived in his hometown shortly after noon yesterday. Veterans, townspeople, and town officials were at the railroad station to welcome the body, and an escort was provided to the funeral home. A guard of honor was posted at the flag-draped casket during calling hours last night at the funeral home. Burial was in St. James Cemetery, Naugatuck. Bearers were Theodore Hodio, Daniel Lee Jr., Stephen Juzwishon, James Zollo, Edward Michell, and Joseph Rybinski. Honorary bearers were Commandant Vernon J. LaFave, Chaplain Raymond C. Wooster, Edward Shlilnskas, and John T. Grant of Naugatuck Valley Detachment, Marine Corps League, and Edmund Sierokowski and Ernest Weyerman of Schaeffer–Fisher Post 25, Beacon Falls, American Legion. Earl Moran and Joseph Natowich were color guards, and color bearers were Louis Contuldi and Walter Okoski. The bugler was Stanley Mis, who sounded Taps at the grave. Members of the firing squad were Sgt Chester Trzaski, Edward Phillois, Nicholas Mennillo, Louis Franz, James Reilley, Charles Gandarillas, Austin Ford Jr., Roland LaBelle, and Robert Crosby. At the grave, the flag covering the casket was presented to Mr. DelVecchio by Sgt James Evans, U.S. Marine Corps escort. Prayers at the grave were read by Father Cooke. Military arrangements were in charge of John A. McGeovor Jr., Commander, and Ernest Trznski, Vice-Commander of the Beacon Falls Legion post, and Chaplain Wooster of the Naugatuck Marine Corps League.
Initially buried in the 5th Marine Division Cemetery on Iwo Jima, Grave 536, Row 12, Plot 2. At his parent’s request, his remains were repatriated and buried on January 26, 1949, in St. James Cemetery, 217 Cross Street, Naugatuck, Connecticut; Section H, Lot 51N. Photos by Jeff DeWitt.
1 – 1930 census https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/6224/
2– 1940 census https://www.ancestry.com/cs/1940-census
3 – https://www.ctatatelibrarydata.org/marriage-records/
4 – https://findagrave.com
5 – World War II Draft Cards: https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/2238/
6 – USMC Muster Rolls: https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/1089/
7 – USMC Casualty Card received via FOIA request