DOB/DOD: March 27, 1918 (Waterbury, CT) – March 11, 1945; 26 years old MARITAL STATUS: Married to Vosca Sottosanto (1914-1995) on July 5, 1941, in Barre, Vermont LOCAL ADDRESS: 945 South Main Street, Waterbury ENLISTMENT: March 15, 1943, in Springfield, Massachusetts SERVICE NUMBER: 845624 UNIT: Company L, 3rd Battalion, 21st Marines, 3rd Marine Division MILITARY OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTY: 0746, Automatic Rifleman
FAMILY: Born to Polish-born Walter (1883-1944) and Josephine Nowakowski (1883-1961). The last name of “Nowie” was used by Joseph. Fourth born of six children. Siblings are Bertha Nowakowski Sedlick (1901-1927), Stella Nowakowski Zdanowicz (1905-1997), Nicholas “Tony” [1913-1997; wounded in Europe in WWII], John (1915-1993), Walter (1921-1985), and Marion Nowakowski DeLeon (1924-1996). 1 Worked at Waterbury Manufacturing Co. in Waterbury prior to the service. 2
CIRCUMSTANCES: Boot camp at Parris Island, South Carolina, in the Spring of 1943. Assigned to the Marine Corps School at Quantico, Virginia, in the Summer of 1943. In October of 1943, assigned to Detachment C, Navy Yard, New York City. In January 1944, assigned to the Naval Operating Base, Iceland, through April 1944. Went to Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, in July 1944 for infantry training. Assigned to the 3rd Marine Division, 21st Marines, 3rd Battalion in October of 1944. 3 Nature and manner of death are unknown.
The photo source is unknown.
From The Hartford Courant March 13, 1945
Six Men from State in Same Marine Unit
Six Connecticut men are all members of the same infantry company in the Third Marines, five of them having fought in the battle for Guam, according to a Marine Corps dispatch from somewhere in the Pacific. The men are: Corporal Joseph Kvadus Jr., 22, son of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Kvadus Sr. of 118 Blue Hills Extension, North Bloomfield; Sergeant Phillip E. LeTarte, 23, of Waterbury; Corporal Albert F. Webster, 20, of Meriden; Corporal Kenneth J. Kitchen, 25, son of Mrs. Mae E. Whaples of 39 Governor Street, East Hartford; and Private First Class Joseph J. Nowie, 28, of Waterbury. WEBMASTER NOTE: PFC Nowie was the only one of the six that didn’t survive the war.
Initially buried in the 3rd Marine Division Cemetery on Iwo Jima; Row 35, Grave 869. At his wife’s request, his remains were repatriated and buried on February 24, 1949, in the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (Punchbowl), 2177 Puowaina Drive, Honolulu, Hawaii; Section O, Site 31. 4 Photo from FindAGrave.com.
DOB/DOD: May 2, 1922 (Hamden, CT) – March 2, 1945; 22 years old MARITAL STATUS: Married Dorothy Bigelow Nagel (1922-1995) on March 1, 1942, in Stamford, CT. LOCAL ADDRESS: 2 Cedar Hill Avenue, New Haven. The house was torn down to build Interstate 91. ENLISTMENT: January 26, 1944, in Springfield, Massachusetts, three weeks after his father died SERVICE NUMBER: 943797 UNIT: Company L, 3rd Battalion, 25th Marines, 4th Marine Division MILITARY OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTY: 0607, Mortar Crewman
FAMILY: Born to Charles (1891-1944) and Marie Nagel (1891-1974). Two sisters, Marjorie E. Nagel Leavenworth (1918-2001) and Nancy Marie Nagel (1931-1967). Worked at Winchester Repeating Arms Co. in New Haven prior to the service. 2
CIRCUMSTANCES: Boot camp at Parris Island, South Carolina. Infantry training at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, in the summer of 1944. Assigned to the 30th Replacement Draft in October 1944. 4 Died from a gunshot wound to the neck. 3 Private Nagel and PFC Harold Wooster of Naugatuck were in the same company. They died 11 days apart.
From the Connecticut Military Portrait Collection, Connecticut State Library, Identifier: PG570; used with permission
Photo contributed by Charles Jackisch.
Honored on a plaque outside of Hamden High School, 2040 Dixwell Ave, Hamden, Connecticut. Photo by Jeff DeWitt
On the memorial wall inside Memorial Town Hall, 2364 CT-10, Hamden, CT 06518 in Hamden, Connecticut. Photo by Jeff DeWitt.3
Initially buried in the 4th Marine Division Cemetery on Iwo Jima, Plot 1, Row 19, Grave 923. 3 At his wife’s request, his remains were repatriated in 1948 and buried in Evergreen Cemetery, 769 Ella T. Grasso Boulevard, New Haven, Connecticut; Section 3, Plot 15, Grave 6. Photo by Jeff DeWitt.
DOB/DOD: April 17, 1926 (Bristol, CT) – March 15, 1945; 18 years old MARITAL STATUS: Unmarried LOCAL ADDRESS: 62 Gaylord Street, Bristol ENLISTMENT: June 19, 1944, in Hartford, Connecticut SERVICE NUMBER: 987675 UNIT: Company E, 2nd Battalion, 25th Marines, 4th Marine Division MILITARY OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTY: 0521, Basic Marine
FAMILY: Son of Vito Lorenzo, born in Bari, Italy (1893-1969), and Josephine Nobile Murrone (1906-1992). Two brothers, Thomas G. (1928-2011), and Vito S. (1932-2009). 1 Worked at Everybody’s Market on Riverside Avenue in Bristol prior to the service. 2
CIRCUMSTANCES: Boot camp at Parris Island, South Carolina, in the Summer of 1944. Then, infantry training at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. Assigned to the 4th Marine Division, 30th Replacement Draft in the Fall of 1944 through the battle. 4 Died from a gunshot wound to the chest. 3 PFC Murrone, PFC Paul Cushman of Bridgeport, Corporal John McGlew of Meriden, and Private August Porco of Bridgeport were all in the same company. They died on different days between February 19 and March 15, 1945.
Photo contributed by Great Nephew Tommy Murrone.
Honored on the Bristol (CT) World War II – Korean War Monument, 495 South Street, Bristol, Connecticut.
Initially buried in the 4th Marine Division Cemetery on Iwo Jima, Plot 1, Row 36, Grave 1796. At his mother’s request, his remains were repatriated in 1948 and buried in Saint Joseph Cemetery, 522 Terryville Avenue, Bristol, Connecticut; Section 8, Lot 3A, Grave 2. Photo by Jeff DeWitt.
DOB/DOD: September 18, 1923 (New Haven, CT) – February 27, 1945; 21 years old MARITAL STATUS: Unmarried LOCAL ADDRESS: 51 Ramsdell Street, New Haven ENLISTMENT: July 20, 1943, in Springfield, Massachusetts SERVICE NUMBER: 861787 UNIT: Company A, 1st Battalion, 25th Marines, 4th Marine Division MILITARY OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTY: 0937, Instructor; 0737, Fire Team Leader
FAMILY: Born to Archibald (1895-1955) and Genevieve Peters Moscoe (1900-1972). John was their only child. Attended Bucknell University. Member of the Phi Kappa Psi fraternity. 1
CIRCUMSTANCES: Boot camp at Parris Island, South Carolina, in the Fall of 1943. Stayed as an instructor at the rifle range through the Summer of 1944. Attended infantry training at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, in the Fall of 1944 and was assigned to the 4th Marine Division, 30th Replacement Draft. 3 The cause and manner of his death are unknown. Corporal Moscoe, PFC James Dermody of West Haven, Corporal James Duffy, Corporal John Moscoe of New Haven, PFC David Phaneuf of Taftville, and Private Richard Wilkinson Jr. of Waterbury, Connecticut, were all in the same company. All were killed in action on separate days between February 19 and March 12, 1945.
Graduate of The Mount Hermon School, Mount Hermon, Massachusetts, Class of ‘41
Photos contributed by niece Suzanne Steinbrecher. This one is Jack, fishing with an unknown adult.
Archie and Genevieve Moscoe — Jack’s parents.
Jack and his mother, Gen.
From the November 1945 issue of “The Shield,” a book from Bucknell University’s Phi Kappa Psi fraternity
Corporal John (Jack) A. Moscoe, USMCR, Pa. Gamma ’42, the only child of Mr. and Mrs. A.J. Moscoe, 51 Ramsdell Street, New Haven, Connecticut, was killed in action February 27, 1945, on Iwo Jima, on which he landed eight days previously. With other Marine Corps heroes, he is buried in the 4th Marine Cemetery on that island. He had observed his twenty-first birthday, September 18, 1944. “He truly loved his Fraternity and his Phi Psi brother,” his mother told The Shield.
Photo of Jack’s fraternity paddle he made himself. Photo courtesy of Suzanne Steinbrecher.
From The Post-Star (Glens Falls, New York) April 2, 1945
Corporal John Moscoe, U.S. Marine Corps, son of Mr. and Mrs. Archie Moscoe, New Haven, Connecticut, and nephew of Mrs. Simon Minor, 56 Orville Street, this city, was killed in action on Iwo Jima February 27, according to word from the War Department. Corporal Moscoe’s father is a former local resident, and the family, for a number of years, have been summer vacationers at the home of Mrs. Minor.
Initially buried in the 4th Marine Division Cemetery on Iwo Jima, Plot 1, Row 26, Grave 1293. 2 At his father’s request, his remains were returned and buried at St. Andrew’s Cemetery, 7 Bridge Street, Kent, Connecticut; plot number is unknown. Photo from Sue McCarthy Steinbrecher and Family.
DOB/DOD: January 8, 1925 (Huntington, WV) – March 9, 1945; 20 years old MARITAL STATUS: Unmarried LOCAL ADDRESS: Unknown. His brothers Clarence and Alonzo lived in New Haven, Connecticut, in the 1940s. ENLISTMENT: October 19, 1943, in Springfield, Massachusetts SERVICE NUMBER: 906828 UNIT: 31st Replacement Draft, 5th Marine Division MILITARY OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTY: 0521, Basic Marine
FAMILY: Both the 1930 and 1940 censuses show the entire family was born in West Virginia and never moved. Born to Alonzo Sr. (1885-1937) and Anna Koher Moreland (1892-1983). Sixth born of nine children. Siblings are Clarence (1909-1959), Marion (1911-1991), Karl (1913-1988), Bernice (1915-1971), Mercedes (1919-2001), Alonzo Jr. (1921-1993), Standard (1923-1984), Lyle (1926-2008), Lewis (1928-1978), Anna (1930-1930), Betty (1932-2010), Hugh (1933-1959), and Lloyde (1936-1980). Private Moreland’s father died when Don was 12 years old. 1
OTHER: When Private Moreland registered for the draft on January 8, 1943, he listed his employer as Mountain Café in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. His mother, Anna, was living in Huntington, West Virginia, and is listed as his next of kin. 2
CIRCUMSTANCES: Boot camp at Parris Island, South Carolina, in January 1944. In April 1944, he was charged with being Absent Without Leave from April 22 to 26, 1944. When he reported to Pittsburgh, he was apprehended and transported to Quantico, Virginia. He was confined for 2 months and lost pay of $25.00 per month for 6 months. 4 In October 1944, he was assigned to the Infantry Training Regiment, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, and then on to the 5th Marine Division, 31st Replacement Draft. Awarded the Purple Heart Medal. 3
Photo from the Huntington (West Virginia) Herald-Dispatch on April 16, 1948. Contributed by Debra Basham, Assistant Director for Archives and History, West Virginia.
Photo from Private Moreland’s service record. Contributed by Debra Basham, Assistant Director of History and Archives, West Virginia.
From an unknown newspaper contributed by Debra Basham, Assistant Director of Archives and History for the State of West Virginia.
WAR VETERAN’S BODY ARRIVES HERE FRIDAY
Funeral arrangements had not been completed this morning for Private Don D. Moreland, USMC, the 20-year-old son of Mrs. Etta L. Moreland, of 1214 ½ Third Avenue, who was killed on Iwo Jima in March 1945. The body will arrive at the Steele Funeral Home on Friday morning. Private Moreland enlisted in the Marine Corps and went overseas in November 1944. Surviving in addition to the mother, are three sisters, Miss Bernice Moreland of Cincinnati, Miss Mercedes Moreland of Atlanta, and Miss Betty Moreland at home, and nine brothers, Carl, Louis, Hugh, and Lloyd Moreland of Huntington, Clarence Moreland of New Haven, Connecticut, Marion Moreland of Hartford, Connecticut, Alonzo C. Moreland with the U.S. Army at Trieste, Italy, Lyle Moreland of Puerto Rico, and Standard Moreland of Cincinnati.
Initially buried in the 5th Marine Division Cemetery on Iwo Jima, Plot 7, Row 6, Grave 1829. At his mother’s request, his remains were repatriated for burial in 1948 in Spring Hill Cemetery, 1427 Norway Avenue, Huntington, West Virginia; Plot 1918-40-1. Photo contributed by Eldora McCoy, an employee at Spring Hill Cemetery.
DOB/DOD: August 24, 1924 (Scranton, PA) – February 24, 1945; 20 years old MARITAL STATUS: Unmarried LOCAL ADDRESS: Mulberry Street, Plantsville ENLISTMENT: July 17, 1942, in Springfield, Massachusetts, at 17 years old SERVICE NUMBER: 422332 UNIT: Company K, 3rd Battalion, 21st Marines, 3rd Marine Division MILITARY OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTY: 0737, Fire Team Leader
FAMILY: Born “Moon” but changed it to “Moone” before enlisting in the Marines. Born to Ralph R. (1902-1964) and Edith Cunningham Moon (1900-1962). Oldest of four children. Siblings are Shirley Moon Lucier (1925-1988), Ralph Jr. (1931-2001), and Beverly Moon Edmiston (1936-2013). 1
CIRCUMSTANCES: Boot camp at Parris Island, South Carolina, in the Summer of 1942. Assigned to the Fleet Marine Force Training Center, New River, North Carolina, in October 1942. From there, he spent the rest of his time with the 3rd Marine Division, 21st Marines, 3rd Battalion, Company K. 4 Cause of death was multiple gunshot wounds. 3 Corporal Robert Moone and PFC William Malizewski of Stamford, Connecticut, were in the same company and died on the same day.
Photo from ancestry.com with his mother. 2
From The Journal, Meriden January 17, 1949
The body of Corporal Robert Richard Moone, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Moone of Mulberry Street, Plantsville, will arrive in Meriden at 2:07 p.m. on Thursday, January 20, and will be brought to the Gould Funeral Home, 130 North Main Street, Southington, where friends may call on Thursday evening from 7 to 9 p.m. The body will lie in state in the Plantsville Congregational Church on Friday, from 12:00 to 2:00 p.m. Funeral service, with full military honors, will be at 2 o’clock, with Rev Norman McLeod officiating. Burial will take place in the family plot at South End Cemetery, Southington. Besides his parents, he is survived by two sisters, Mrs. Gerard Lucier and Miss Beverly Moone, and a brother, Ralph Moone Jr., all of Southington, and a grandmother, Mrs. Emma Moone of Newark, New Jersey. Corporal Moone was a member of the Plantsville Congregational Church and attended Lewis High School for two years. He enlisted in the Marine Corps on July 1, 1942, in Springfield, Massachusetts, and was sent to Parris Island for his basic training and then was sent to San Diego, California, for further training. As a member of the Third Division, 21st Marines, he was sent to New Zealand, Bougainville, Guam, and Iwo Jima, where he met his death at Iwo Jima on February 24, 1945.
From The Southington News January 28, 1949
FINAL TRIBUTE PAID BY TOWN TO CPL MOONE
Full military honors were accorded to Corporal Robert Richard Moone, of The Marine Corps, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Moone Sr., of Mulberry Street, Plantsville, whose funeral was held at 2 p.m. Friday at the Plantsville Congregational Church. The Rev. Norman M. Macleod Jr., the pastor, conducted the services. Burial was in South End Cemetery, Plantsville. Representatives of all local veteran organizations attended the services and served as honorary bearers along with a delegation of Town officials headed by First Selectman Joseph A. Depanio Jr. A firing squad from the Marine Corps League of Meriden fired three volleys and sounded Taps at the cemetery. The flag which draped the casket was folded and presented to Corporal Moone’s parents. Corporal Moone was killed at Iwo Jima in the Pacific Area on February 24, 1945, and was the first Marine to be returned here for burial. He attended Lewis High and entered service on July 16, 1942. He was attached to the Third Division, 21st Marines, and saw active duty at New Zealand, Bougainville, Guam, and Iwo Jima. He is survived by his parents and two sisters, Mrs. Gerald Lucier and Miss Beverly Moone, one brother, Ralph Moone Jr., all of this town, and his grandmother, Mrs. Emma Moone of Newark, NJ.
Initially buried in the 3rd Marine Division Cemetery on Iwo Jima, Row 8, Grave 181. At his mother’s request, his remains were returned and buried on January 21, 1949, in South End Burying Ground / Cemetery, 219 South End Road, Southington, Connecticut; unknown plot number. Photos by Jeff DeWitt.
DOB/DOD: January 3, 1925 (Thompsonville, CT) – March 3, 1945; 20 years old MARITAL STATUS: Unmarried LOCAL ADDRESS: 12 North Street, Thompsonville ENLISTMENT: December 30, 1942, in Springfield, Massachusetts SERVICE NUMBER: 527073 UNIT: Company E, 2nd Battalion, 26th Marines, 5th Marine Division MILITARY OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTY: 0745, Rifleman; and 0746, Automatic Rifleman
FAMILY: Born to Polish-born Joseph Milkowski (1886-1945; died 6 months after Henry was killed) and Sophie Milkowski (1892-1968). One brother, Michael (1914-1997). 1, 2
CIRCUMSTANCES: Boot camp at Parris Island, South Carolina, in early 1943. Assigned to the Parachute School at Camp Lejeune, New River, North Carolina, then the 4th Para Battalion, Headquarters Company at Camp Pendleton, Oceanside, California, in the summer of 1943. Assigned to the Parachute Training School, Parachute Replacement Company, Camp Gillespie, San Diego, California, in October 1943. April 1944 saw him transferred to the 5th Marine Division, 26th Marines, 2nd Battalion at Camp Pendleton, Oceanside, California. 4 Died from a gunshot wound to the head. 3
From 1939 Higgins Junior High School, Thompsonville, CT
Initially buried in the 5th Marine Division Cemetery on Iwo Jima, Plot 7, Row 3, Grave 1779. At his mother’s request, remains were repatriated in 1948 and buried in Holy Cross Cemetery, 723 Enfield Street, Enfield, Connecticut; unknown plot number. 4Photos by Jeff DeWitt.
DOB/DOD: February 21, 1925 (Lowell, MA) – February 19, 1945; 19 years old MARITAL STATUS: Unmarried LOCAL ADDRESS: 20 Windsor Avenue, Meriden ENLISTMENT: February 19, 1943, in Boston, Massachusetts, on his 18th birthday SERVICE NUMBER: 526410 UNIT: Company E, 2nd Battalion, 25th Marines, 4th Marine Division MILITARY OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTY: 737, Fire Team Leader
FAMILY: Born to John T. (1900-1970) and Bertha Kalwat McGlew (1908-1999). 1940 census shows John living at his Uncle William (1891-1966) and Aunt Essie Keech’s house (1896-1984) in Salem, Massachusetts. Two brothers, Thomas (1941-2016) and Charles (1947-2017).
CIRCUMSTANCES: Boot camp at Parris Island, South Carolina. Assigned to the 33rd Recruit Replacement Battalion at Camp Lejeune and then on the 4th Division, 25th Marines, 2nd Battalion Company E in October 1943. 5 Died from wounds to the head and chest. 3 Corporal McGlew, PFC Paul Cushman of Bridgeport, PFC Vincenzo Murrone of Bristol, and Private August Porco of Bridgeport were all in the same company. They died on different days between February 19 and March 15, 1945.
From Katie McGlew, niece: “Bertha Kalwat and John T. McGlew had a baby boy on 21st February 1925. Bertha then went home to Connecticut. The baby, John Robert (known as Bob), was brought up in Salem with his father, John McGlew, his uncle, William McGlew, his aunt, Essie McGlew Keech, and her husband, Bob’s uncle, William Keech. They all lived as a family at 4 King Street, Salem, Massachusetts. Bob lived in Salem and attended school there up until the time he joined the US Marine Corps. In 1940, when Bob was 15, his father, John McGlew, and his mother, Bertha Kalwat, married and made their home in Connecticut. Bob continued to live in Salem with his aunt and uncle, Essie and William Keech. He joined the Marines before he graduated from high school, as did 34 other boys, 10% of his graduating class. His aunt, Essie McGlew Keech, accepted his diploma at Salem High Graduation Exercises on his behalf, according to a newspaper report dated 7th June 1943.”
Salem (MA) High School Class of ‘43
Photos below are from Katie McGlew, niece of Corporal McGlew.
He is wearing his first Purple Heart Medal.
2nd Purple Heart Medal
Letter to parents regarding receipt of the 2nd Purple Heart Medal. Contributed by Katie McGlew, a niece.
APR 27 1945
My dear Mr. and Mrs. McGlew:
I am directed by the Commandant of the Marine Corps to inform you that you are entitled to the Purple Heart and the enclosed Purple Heart Certificate posthumously awarded your son, Corporal John R. McGlew, U.S. Marine Corps Reserve, in the name of the President of the United States and by direction of the Secretary of the Navy. The Purple Heart, which is being engraved, will be forwarded to you within the next two months.
You are also entitled to the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal for your son’s service in the Asiatic-Pacific Area. The medal will not be ready for issuance until six months after the war, and it is requested that you make an application to this office for an award at that time.
Sincerely yours,
A.E. O’NEIL, Colonel, U.S. Marine Corps
From The Fitchburg (MA) Sentinel August 5, 1944
(By Sergeant Gilbert P. Bailey, of Delphi, Indiana, a Marine Corps combat correspondent. Distributed by the Associated Press)
SAIPAN, Marianas Islands – (Delayed) – Their commanding officer tells the story of three Marines who risked their lives to stay with a mortally wounded Marine officer until he died. They are Platoon Sergeant Donald R. Weber, 21, Jennings, Missouri; Corporal Merrill Grapes, 19, Waltham, Massachusetts; and Private First Class John McGlew, 19, Salem, Massachusetts. They were cleaning out the last caves on the east side of the island when a Japanese officer ran out of a dugout and slashed the Marine Lieutenant across the body with a saber. At the same time, enemy machine guns opened up on their flanks. The three men had to choose between staying with their officer, who was mortally wounded, or risking a Japanese ambush. They refused to leave, staying with the officer, and giving him what aid they could until he died. Under cover of darkness, they then made their way back to their outfit. After the Lieutenant died, Sergeant Weber took over his platoon and led the unit in successive attacks against the enemy.
From the Record-Journal (Meriden, CT) November 10, 1944
Somewhere in the Pacific – (Delayed) – Marine Corporal John R. McGlew, 19, (526410) of 20 Windsor Avenue, Meriden, Connecticut, has been promoted from Private First Class to his present rank (Corporal). Formerly employed at the A.C. Lawrence Leather Company, Peabody, Massachusetts, Corporal McGlew graduated from Salem High School in February 1943 and immediately entered the Marine Corps. He is a veteran of Roi-Namur in the Marshalls and Saipan and Tinian in the Marianas.
Letter from Corporal McGlews’s Company Commander to Mrs. McGlew; from ancestry.com
Dear Mrs. McGlew,
I wish to extend to you my deepest sympathy in the death of your son, John. Your loss and your sorrow are great, and I know my words can be of little comfort. John died of wounds received on 19 of February and was given a Christian burial by a Catholic priest in the 4th Division Cemetery, Plot 1, Row 10, Grave no 453. I believe you will receive a photo from Headquarters Marine Corps showing the exact location. Your son was a Group Leader in the First Rifle Platoon, and he always did his duty very well indeed. His memory will linger in the hearts of those he worked and fought with. We hope the ideals he died for may always exist in our great country and that our country will rightly appreciate his supreme sacrifice. May God bless his memory to you.
Sincerely yours, Captain Donald J. Kendall, Jr USMCR Company Commander E Company 2nd Bn – 25th Marines 4th Marine Division
McGlew Park, 204 North Street, Salem, Massachusetts, is named in his honor. Image from maps.google.com.
Initially buried in 4th Marine Division Cemetery on Iwo Jima, Plot 1, Row 10, Grave 453. At his father’s request, remains were repatriated and buried on February 24, 1949, 3 in the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (Punchbowl), Honolulu, Hawaii; Section N, Grave 1445. Photo from FindAGrave.com. 2
DOB/DOD: August 30, 1923 (Nashua, NH) – February 21, 1945; 21 years old MARITAL STATUS: Unmarried LOCAL ADDRESS: 17 Raymond Street, New Britain ENLISTMENT: March 19, 1943, in Springfield, Massachusetts SERVICE NUMBER: 845676 UNIT: Company G, 1st Battalion, 24th Marines, 4th Marine Division MILITARY OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTY: 0746, Automatic Rifleman STATUS: MISSING IN ACTION
FAMILY: Born to George (1896-1965) and Pauline Lucier McAdoo (1897-1941). Third born of eight children. Siblings are Olin (1920-1982), Paul (1921-2002), Edwin (1925-1993), Marian (1927-2004), Andrea “Topsy” (1931-2015), Allena (1933-2019), and Colleen (1934-1979). Corporal McAdoo’s mother died when he was a senior in high school. 1 Worked at Tuttle and Bailey in New Britain prior to the service. 4
CIRCUMSTANCES: Boot camp at Parris Island, South Carolina, in the Spring of 1943. Stayed on as a recruit instructor at Parris Island through the summer of 1943. Transferred to the 4th Marine Division, 24th Marines, Camp Pendleton, Oceanside, California, in January 1944. 7 Also fought on Roi-Namur, Saipan, and Tinian. Died of head wounds received in action at Iwo Jima aboard the USS Logan. Buried at sea at latitude 24° -57N, longitude 141° -44 E. 5 Awarded the Purple Heart Medal.
Nashua (NH) High School Class of 1941; honor roll student
From 1-24thmarines.com 2
From the New Britain Herald dated March 27, 1945; contributed by Danielle from the New Britain Public Library, Local History Room, 20 High Street, New Britain, Connecticut.
CPL RAYMOND A. MCADOO MEETS DEATH ON IWO JIMA
Former Tuttle & Bailey Employee Fatally Wounded While Fighting with the Marines February 21
Corporal Raymond Arthur McAdoo, United States Marine Corps, was killed in action on Iwo Jima on February 21, according to a Marine Corps telegram received by his father, George S. McAdoo, of 346 Lasalle Street. He is one of four brothers who are in active service on fighting fronts. Corporal McAdoo was born in Nashua, New Hampshire, graduated from Nashua High School, and attended the New Hampshire State University. He moved with his family to New Britain some time ago and, for a time, he was employed at the Tuttle & Bailey Co., where his father, a widower, is foundry superintendent. He had been in the Marines for about two years and had taken part in several battles prior to that for Iwo Jima. His service brothers are Motor Machinist’s Mate 1/c Paul McAdoo, now in New London after having served 18 months overseas; T/Sgt Olin McAdoo, for the past 32 months in action in France and Germany; and Coxswain Edwin McAdoo, now in the European Theater.
Honored on the New Britain Veterans Memorial at the corner of Main and West Main Street, 27 West Main Street, New Britain. Photos by Jeff DeWitt.
Memorialized at The Honolulu Memorial Courts of the Missing, Court 4, 2177 Puowaina Drive, Honolulu, Hawaii. 3,6
DOB/DOD: September 8, 1924 (Saco, ME) – February 23, 1945; 20 years old MARITAL STATUS: Unmarried LOCAL ADDRESS: Brick Top Road, Willimantic ENLISTMENT: April 27, 1943, in Springfield, Massachusetts SERVICE NUMBER: 846022 UNIT: Company B, 1st Battalion, 24th Marines, 4th Marine Division MILITARY OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTY: 0745, Rifleman and 0746, Automatic Rifleman
FAMILY: Born to Canadian-born father Joseph Martel (1899-1978) and Diana Vachon Martel (1903-1971). Oldest of 5 children. Siblings are Diana Martel Dubina (1926-2012), Leo (1928-2005), Maurice (1929-1983), and Raymond (1935-?). 1
CIRCUMSTANCES: Boot camp at Parris Island, South Carolina, in the summer of 1943. Assigned to the Guard Company, Marine Barracks, Naval Air Station, Jacksonville, Florida, from October 1943 through April 1944. Assigned as a light truck driver to the 3rd Provisional Marine Detachment, Administrative Command, Pacific, in the Summer of 1944. Then, his final assignment was to the 4th Marine Division, 24th Marines, 1st Battalion, B. Company from October 1944 until the end of the war. 5 Martel was mortally wounded on February 21, 1945, while fighting on Iwo Jima. He died aboard LST 931 two days later. The sailors returned his body to Iwo Jima; Martel was buried in Row 2, Grave 60 of the Fourth Marine Division Cemetery. Awarded the Purple Heart Medal. 2 Worked at American Thread Co. in Willimantic prior to the service. 3 Nature and manner of his death are unknown. PFC Martel and Private Edward Terreau of Torrington, Connecticut, were in the same company. They died 13 days apart.
Photo from an unknown source
Honored on the Windham World War II Monument, 7 Windham Center Rd, Windham, Connecticut. Photo by Jeff DeWitt.
Died aboard the USS LST-931. Initially buried in the 4th Marine Division Cemetery on Iwo Jima, Row 13, Grave 600. At his father’s request, his remains were repatriated and buried in St. Joseph’s Cemetery, 134 Club Road, Willimantic, Connecticut; Section 1E, Row 6, Grave # 3. Photo by Jeff DeWitt.
