DOB/DOD: September 14, 1926 (Torrington, CT) – March 11, 1945; 18 years old
MARITAL STATUS: Unmarried
LOCAL ADDRESS: Rural Free Delivery (RFD) 1, Bakerville section of New Hartford, CT
ENLISTMENT: September 15, 1943, in Springfield, Massachusetts, the day after his 17th birthday
SERVICE NUMBER: 547943
UNIT: Company C, 1st Battalion, 9th Marines, 3rd Marine Division
MILITARY OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTY: 0746, Automatic Rifleman (BAR)
FAMILY: Born to Clorindo (1889-1960) and Frances Guillou Barella (1895-1983). Clorindo was born in Chiusa Di Samichele, Turino, Italy, and Frances in France. Fourth youngest of nine children. Siblings are Catherine (1917-1996), Theresa (1918-2005), Frank (1920-2007), Emma Barella Smith (1922-2004), Livia (1924-1935), Ernest (1929-1997), Rosemary Barella Hall (1932-1999), and Clorindo Jr. (1937-2013). 1, 2, 3
CIRCUMSTANCES: Died from a gunshot wound to the head. 7 From TogetherWeServed.com, he was killed in action while in combat in battle near ‘Cushman’s Pocket’ and ‘The Gorge.’
Citation to accompany the award of the Silver Star Medal
For action during World War II, U.S. Marine Corps, 3rd Marine Division, General order number 36896, November 21, 1945. 6
The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Private First Class Richard Barella (MCSN: 54793), United States Marine Corps Reserve, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity as an Automatic Rifleman, serving with Company C, First Battalion, Ninth Marines, THIRD Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands, 7 March 1945. With his squad waging a fierce attack against well-entrenched, heavily armed enemy forces, Private First Class Barella voluntarily crawled to an exposed position in order to fire more effectively upon the fanatic Japanese and, pouring a deadly stream of rifle fire on the hostile position, succeeded in annihilating two machine guns with their crews and in silencing still another enemy weapon. By his steadfast determination, indomitable fighting spirit, and unfaltering devotion to duty in the face of strong opposition, Private First Class Barella enabled his squad to achieve its objective, and his courage throughout upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
Initially buried in the 3rd Marine Division Cemetery on Iwo Jima, Row 32, Grave 794. At his mother’s request, his remains were repatriated and buried on April 9, 1948, in Beverly National Cemetery, Beverly, New Jersey; Section F, Plot 1884. Photo by MSgt Chester Chubbuck, USAF (retired).
1 – 1930 census https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/6224/
2 – 1940 census https://www.ancestry.com/cs/1940-census
3 – https://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv=1&dbid=4124&h=766148&tid=&pid=&queryId=b6617e0b07b11e31fb5a941d2b16ad96&usePUB=true&_phsrc=NtW1050&_phstart=successSource
4 – Barella.org https://barella.org/History/Ernesto/Clorindo/Richard/index.html
5 – https://marines.togetherweserved.com/usmc/servlet/tws.webapp.WebApp?
6 – https://valor.militarytimes.com/hero/42005
7 – USMC Casualty Report received via FOIA request