DOB/DOD: July 18, 1921 (Westfield, MA) – March 13, 1945; 23 years old
MARITAL STATUS: Unmarried
LOCAL ADDRESS: 232 Pleasant Street, Hartford
ENLISTMENT: September 24, 1940, in Springfield, Massachusetts
SERVICE NUMBER: 296453
UNIT: Company A, 5th Mobilization Training Battalion, 5th Marine Division
MILITARY OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTY: 0014, Mechanic
FAMILY: Born to Paul Sr. (1893-1950) and Anita Yncera (1903-?), both born in Spain. Fourth born of six children. Siblings are Aniceto (1919-2000), Mary Yncera Tillona (1920-?), Lucy (1922-2013), Valentino (1924-2009), and Paul Jr. (1933-2015). 1
CIRCUMSTANCES: Boot camp at Parris Island, South Carolina, in late 1940. Assigned to 7th Marines, 3rd Battalion, Company M at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, December 1940 through April 1941. Back to Parris Island with the 1st Marine Division, 1st Marines, 3rd Battalion. His next assignment was with the 1st Marine Division, 7th Marines, 3rd Battalion, Company M at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, where he was trained as a mechanic and truck driver. Then it was on to the 1st Marine Division, 1st Motor Transport Battalion, Headquarters and Service Company, then a transfer to his final unit in the 5th Marine Division, 5th Motor Transport Battalion, Company A at Camp Pendleton in Oceanside, California. 4 The nature and manner of him being killed in action are unknown. 3
Photo from Central Connecticut State University
From The Hartford Courant May 17, 1941
James Yncera, Private First Class in the United States Marine Corps, is visiting his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Paul Yncera, of 232 Pleasant Street, on a 20-day furlough. Yncera enlisted last September and did his recruit training at Parris Island, South Carolina. On December 17, he went to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, with the 5th Marines, Fleet Marine Force, for extensive maneuvers and remained there until April 20.
Yncera has been transferred again to Parris Island for duty with Company M, 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines, and his regiment will have its home base at a new camp being built at Wilmington, North Carolina. Since enlisting, Yncera claims to have put on 20 pounds. He reveals that a number of men from Hartford and vicinity are stationed at Cuba and Parris Island. Yncera will report to his station on June 2.
From The Hartford Courant May 12, 1945
Word has been received here of the death of Sergeant James Yncera of the Marine Corps, who was reported killed in action on March 13 on Iwo Jima. Sergeant Yncera was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Paul Yncera, formerly of 233 Pleasant Street (Hartford), now residing in California. He enlisted in 1940 while a student at Hartford Public High School. He had previously attended Henry Barnard School. Besides his parents, he leaves two sisters, Mrs. Mary Tillona of Windsor Street and Miss Lucy Yncera of California; three brothers, Aniceto Yncera of East Hartford, Valentino Yncera, who is now with the Navy, and Paul Yncera Jr., of California. A mass will be said for him at St. Anthony’s Church on Wednesday, May 16 at 7 a.m.
Initially buried in the 5th Marine Division Cemetery on Iwo Jima, Plot 8, Row 8, Grave 2213. At his mother’s request, his remains were repatriated and buried on January 20, 1949, in Golden Gate National Cemetery, 1300 Sneath Lane, San Bruno, California; Section J, Plot 820. 3 Photo contributed by Kathleen McCall, Director, Golden Gate National Cemetery, 1300 Sneath Lane, San Bruno, California.
1 – 1940 census https://www.ancestry.com/cs/1940-census
2 – https://ancestry.com
3 – USMC Casualty Report received via FOIA request
4 – USMC Muster Rolls: https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/1089/