DOB/DOD: March 8, 1926 (New Bedford, MA) – February 24, 1945; 18 years old
MARITAL STATUS: Unmarried
LOCAL ADDRESS: 85 Fulton Street, Bridgeport
ENLISTMENT: January 14, 1944, in Springfield, Massachusetts
SERVICE NUMBER: 556754
UNIT: Company I, 3rd Battalion, 21st Marines, 3rd Marine Division
MILITARY OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTY: 0746, Automatic Rifleman
FAMILY: Son of Frank Sr. (1876-1964) and Joaquina “Rose” Souza (1886-1972), both born in Portugal. Youngest of three children. Siblings were Arminda Souza Tabarda (1910-1980), Amelia Souza Gosmes (1911-?), Anna (1914-1985), and Alice Souza Esteves (1919-1973). 1
CIRCUMSTANCES: Boot camp at Parris Island, South Carolina, in Spring 1944. Infantry training at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, in the Summer of 1944. His final assignment was to the 3rd Marine Division, 21st Marines, 3rd Battalion, Company I. Frank Souza Jr. of Bridgeport was on all of the same Muster Rolls as Walter Sokoli. They ended up in the same company in the 3rd Marines and were both killed on the same day. 3 The nature of PFC Souza’s wounds is unknown. 2
The photo is attached to PFC Souza’s headstone.
From The Bridgeport Telegram June 10, 1948
Military services for Private First Class Frank Souza Jr., son of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Souza Sr., of 85 Fulton Street, who was killed in action on February 24, 1945, on Iwo Jima while serving with the U.S. Marines, will take place Saturday at 9:30 a.m. in the Richards Funeral Home, 439 Washington Avenue, and at 10 o’clock in St Raphael’s Church. Burial will be in Saint Michael’s Cemetery. Private First Class Souza attended Washington grade school and was a graduate of Central High School. He had been employed at the Burritt Lumber Company and was a member of the Vasco DiGama club. In addition to his parents, he is survived by three sisters, Mrs. Arminda Taborda, Mrs. Alice Esteves, and Miss Anna Souza.
Initially interred in the 3rd Marine Division Cemetery on Iwo Jima, Row 19, Grave 468. At his father’s request, his remains were repatriated and buried on June 12, 1948, in St. Michael’s Cemetery, 2206 Stratford Avenue, Stratford, Connecticut; Section 11, Lot 309B, Grave 1. 2 Photo by Jeff DeWitt.
Private August Porco, killed in action in the Battle of Iwo Jima on March 10, 1945, is buried just one plot away from PFC Souza.
1 – 1940 census https://www.ancestry.com/cs/1940-census
2 – USMC Casualty Report received via FOIA request
3 – USMC Muster Rolls: https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/1089/