DOB/DOD: May 12, 1910 (Manchester, CT) – March 9, 1945; 34 years old
MARITAL STATUS: Alison MacKinnon (1911-1990).
LOCAL ADDRESS: 27 North School – Rear, Manchester
ENLISTMENT: September 27, 1943, in Providence, Rhode Island
SERVICE NUMBER: 896442
UNIT: Company B, 5th Engineer Battalion, 5th Marine Division
MILITARY OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTY: 0705, Basic Engineer; and 0359, Engineer Equipment Operator
NOTE: His last name is listed as “Skone” in Marine Corps records; however, Skoneski is his last name by birth.
FAMILY: Born to Victor (1870-1928) and Josephine Polinski Skoneski (1870-1939), both born in Poland. Fifth born of seven children. Siblings are Sophia (1896-?), Victoria (1897-?), Joseph (1900-1988), Anthony (1903-?), William (1905-1974), Freda Skoneski Duffy (1907-1999). 1 Moved to Providence, Rhode Island, and worked at Larson and Winsor in Providence, Rhode Island, prior to the service. 2
CIRCUMSTANCES: Boot camp at Parris Island, South Carolina, in the Fall of 1943. Assigned to the Reserve Officers School Detachment in Quantico, Virginia, in early 1944. Reassigned to the 5th Marine Division, 5th Engineer Battalion in the Summer of 1944. 4 Died from wounds to the head. 3 PFC Skoneski was in the same company as Corporal John Zwanch of Watertown. They were killed 17 days apart.
Portrait from the book “WWII History of Manchester, Connecticut.”
From the Manchester Evening Herald January 5, 1949
Marine’s Body Here Friday
Remains of PFC Victor J. Skoneski to Arrive at 6:30 p.m.
The remains of Marine Private First Class Victor J. Skoneski, 34, of Providence, Rhode Island, will arrive at the Manchester railroad station Friday night at 6:30. Funeral services will be held Saturday morning at 8:30 from the John B. Burke Funeral Home, 5 East Center Street, and at 9 o’clock from St. Bridget’s Church. Military rites will be conducted by the Frank J. Mansfield Detachment, Marine Corps League. A native of Manchester, Private First Class Skoneski was educated in local schools. He moved to Providence in 1937 and entered the Marines in October 1944. He went overseas a few weeks later with the 5th Marine Division and was killed in action on March 9, 1945, at Iwo Jima. He leaves a sister, Mrs. Freda Duffy of Manchester, and three brothers, Joseph of this town, Anthony of New York City, and William of Stonington. The funeral home will be open Friday evening at 8 o’clock for the convenience of friends.
From The Manchester Evening Herald January 8, 1949
Funeral services for Private First Class Victor J. Skoneski of Providence, Rhode Island, formerly of this town, were held this morning at 8:30 from the John B. Burke Funeral Home and at 9 o’clock from St. Bridget’s Church. Private First Class Skoneski was killed in Iwo Jima on March 9, 1945. Reverend Robert Carroll celebrated a requiem mass, Reverend Bronislaw Gadarowski was the deacon, and Reverend John Tien of South Coventry was the sub-deacon. Burial was in St. Bridget’s Cemetery. The bearers were James Chaoe, Thomas Johnson, John Dysenchuk, William Johnson, Christopher Totten, and Milton Pacciara. Reverend Carroll conducted the committal services. A firing squad from the National Guard was at the cemetery. A delegation of the Frank J. Mansfield Detachment, Marine Corps League, attended the funeral.
PFC Skone’s final resting place is unknown. PFC Skone was initially buried in the 5th Marine Division Cemetery on Iwo Jima, Plot 6, Row 9, Grave 1691. According to an obituary on January 8, 1949, his remains were returned, and he was buried at St. Bridget’s Cemetery, 190 Oakland Street, Manchester, Connecticut. The cemetery is unable to find a record of his burial as Skoneski nor as Skone.
1 – 1940 census https://www.ancestry.com/cs/1940-census
2 – https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/22383
3 – USMC Casualty Report received via FOIA request
4 – USMC Muster Rolls: https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/1089/