DOB/DOD: October 11, 1925 (New Britain, CT) – February 24, 1945; 19 years old
MARITAL STATUS: Unmarried
LOCAL ADDRESS: 495 South Main Street, New Britain
ENLISTMENT: November 11, 1943, in Springfield, Massachusetts
SERVICE NUMBER: 906971
UNIT: Battery G, 3rd Battalion, 14th Marines, 4th Marine Division
MILITARY OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTY: 0514, Radar Operator (Designated Equipment – Communication), and 0767, Radio–Telephone Operator
FAMILY: Born to Nickolas (1897-1973) [born in Italy and served in the Army in WWI] and Antonetta Fallo Palumbo (1906-1995). Frank was the youngest of their two sons. One brother, Anthony (1924-2005). 1 Worked at Wuckert and Lake Clothing Store in New Britain prior to the service. 2
CIRCUMSTANCES: Boot camp at Parris Island, South Carolina, in early 1944. Assigned to the Training Center, Signal Battalion, Company C, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. In the summer of 1944, assigned to the 65th Replacement Battalion, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. Then it was to the West Coast in October with the Provisional Signal Company, Pacific, and finally, in January 1945, the 4th Marine Division, 14th Marines, 3rd Battalion. 4 Died from multiple shrapnel wounds. 3
New Britain High School yearbook; Class of 1943. Material contributed by Sonia Herrera, Library Assistant, New Britain High School
From the Connecticut Military Portrait Collection, Connecticut State Library, Identifier: PG570; used with permission
From the New Britain Herald dated March 17, 1945; contributed by Danielle from the New Britain Public Library, Local History Room, 20 High Street, New Britain, Connecticut.
KILLED ON IWO JIMA
Private First Class Frank W. Palumbo, 19, son of Mr. and Mrs. Nicola Palumbo of 495 South Main Street, was killed in action on February 24 while serving with the United States Marines in the battle for Iwo Jima. He enlisted in November 1943 and went overseas in August 1944.
Honored on the New Britain Veterans Memorial at the corner of Main and West Main Street, 27 West Main Street, New Britain. Photo by Jeff DeWitt.
Initially buried in 4th Marine Division Cemetery on Iwo Jima, Plot 1, Row 5, Grave 232. At his mother’s request, his remains were repatriated in 1948 and buried in St. Mary’s Cemetery, 1152 Stanley Street, New Britain, Connecticut; Section M5, Lot 111, Grave #3. 3Photos by Jeff DeWitt.
1 – 1940 census https://www.ancestry.com/cs/1940-census
2 – https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/2238
3 – USMC Casualty Report received via FOIA request
4 – USMC Muster Rolls: https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/1089/