DOB/DOD: July 13, 1920 (Allston, MA) – February 19, 1945; 24 years old}
MARITAL STATUS: Unmarried
LOCAL ADDRESS: 500 Broadway, Somerville, Massachusetts
ENLISTMENT: August 13, 1942, in Boston, Massachusetts
SERVICE NUMBER: 432359
UNIT: Company A, 1st Battalion, 25th Marines, 4th Marine Division
MILITARY OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTY: 0746, Automatic Rifleman
FAMILY: Son of James H. (1887-1954) and Julia Cottingham Duffy (1892-1970). Both were born in Massachusetts. One brother, Ralph (1926-1996). 1, 2 James worked at Hood Rubber Company in Watertown, Massachusetts, prior to joining the Marines. 4
CIRCUMSTANCES: Boot camp at Parris Island, South Carolina. Assigned to the Second Guard Company in Portsmouth, Virginia, in late 1942 into 1943. Reduced in rank in January 1943 for disorderly conduct. In October 1943, he was assigned to his final unit, the 4th Marine Division, 25th Marines, 1st Battalion. 6 Wounded in both hips and the right hand in action at Saipan, Marianas Islands, on June 15, 1944, prior to Iwo Jima. Received multiple wounds resulting in his death on Iwo Jima. 5 Corporal Duffy, PFC Dermody of West Haven, Corporal John Moscoe of New Haven, PFC David Phaneuf of Taftville, and Private Richard Wilkinson Jr. of Waterbury, CT, were all in the same company. All were killed in action between February 19 and March 12, 1945.
From The Somerville Journal on October 14, 1948. Contributed by Kevin O’Kelly, Head of Reference, Somerville Public Library, Somerville, Massachusetts.
MARINE HEROES TENDERED FINAL RITES THIS WEEK
The bodies of two Marine Corps heroes from Somerville, killed in action in the Pacific, arrived at South Station Monday afternoon for reburial in the Veterans’ Cemetery here.
Corporal James P. Duffy of 500 Broadway was buried Tuesday at 10:00, while services for Private First Class Ralph Thomas Jeffery of 5 Bigelow Street will be held at the Winter Hill Baptist Church this afternoon at 2:00, with the funeral from the residence.
Corporal Duffy’s next-of-kin is his father, James H. Duffy.
Private First Class Jeffery, a member of the First Marine Division, was maintaining his position behind a tree with a carbine when he was last seen alive. He held three battle stars and was awarded the Purple Heart [Medal].
Initially buried in the 4th Marine Division Cemetery on Iwo Jima, Plot 1, Row 10, Grave 476. At his father’s request, his remains were repatriated and buried in Veterans Cemetery, 1340 Broadway, Somerville, Massachusetts; there are no plot numbers in this cemetery. Photo from FindAGrave.com. 3
1 – 1930 census https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/6224/
2 – 1940 census https://www.ancestry.com/cs/1940-census
3 – https://findagrave.com
4 – https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/2238/
5 – USMC Casualty Report received via FOIA request
6 – USMC Muster Rolls: https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/1089/