DOB/DOD: April 5, 1926 (Waterbury, CT) – March 12, 1945; 18 years old
MARITAL STATUS: Unmarried
LOCAL ADDRESS: 83 South Leonard Street, Waterbury
ENLISTMENT: June 22, 1944, in Hartford, Connecticut
SERVICE NUMBER: 987699
UNIT: Company A, 1st Battalion, 25th Marines, 4th Marine Division
MILITARY OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTY: 0745, Rifleman
FAMILY: Born to Richard Sr. (1902-1954) and Agnes M. Liudvinacious Wilkinson (1904-1980). Oldest of three children. Siblings are John A. (1930-2005) and Audrey (1936-). 1 Richard was a student at Leavenworth High School in Waterbury when he registered for the draft. 2
CIRCUMSTANCES: Boot camp in the Summer of 1944 at Parris Island, South Carolina. Assigned to the 4th Marine Division, 30th Replacement Draft in the Fall of 1944 through the Battle of Iwo Jima. 3 Officially listed as Died of Wounds. The nature and manner of wounds received, causing his death, are unknown. Private Wilkinson, PFC James Dermody of West Haven, Corporal James Duffy, Corporal John Moscoe of New Haven, and PFC David Phaneuf of Taftville were all in the same company. All were killed in action on separate days between February 19 and March 12, 1945.
From an unknown newspaper, found on FindAGrave.com
Marine Private Richard J. Wilkinson, Jr., son of Mr. and Mrs. Richard J. Wilkinson, 83 South Leonard Street, was fatally wounded in the Battle for Iwo Jima. He would have been 19 years old on April 5.
A requiem high Mass will be sung for him at St. Patrick’s Church on April 19 at 8 a.m.
Private Wilkinson entered the U.S. Marine Corps on June 22, 1944, and trained at Parris Island, South Carolina, and Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, before going overseas last December. He formerly attended Leavenworth High School and would have graduated this year.
Besides his parents, he is survived by a brother, John, and a sister, Audrey Wilkinson.
Initially buried in the 4th Marine Division Cemetery on Iwo Jima, Plot 1, Row 31, Grave 1524. At his mother’s request, his remains were repatriated in 1948 and buried in Cavalry Cemetery, 2324 East Main Street, Waterbury, Connecticut; Section 16, Lot 1. Photo by Jeff DeWitt.
1 – 1940 census https://www.ancestry.com/cs/1940-census
2 – https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/2238
3 – USMC Muster Rolls: https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/1089/