World War II Honoree

John Albino Albanese

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

New Haven, Connecticut

Honored By

John J. Albanese

Relationship

Son

ENLISTED AT THE AGE OF 17 ON MARCH 3, 1943. HAD BOOT TRAINING AT PARRIS ISLAND, SOUTH CAROLINA AND BASIC TRAINING AT CAMP LEJEUNE, NORTH CAROLINA. ASSIGNED TO THE 39TH REPLACEMENT BATTALION AND SHIPPED OVERSEAS DECEMBER 1943. SERVED IN NEW CALEDONIA UNTIL ASSIGNED TO THE 11TH DEFENSE BATTALION AT GUADALCANAL. LATER ASSIGNED TO A DEMOLITION TEAM AND TRAVELED VARIOUS ISLANDS IN THE NEW GEORGIA ISLANDS INCLUDING MUNDA, ARUNDEL, VELLA LAVELLA, KOLOMBANGARA. TRANSFERRED TO THE 15TH MARINES, 6TH MARINE DIVISION DECEMBER 1944. PARTICIPATED IN THE APRIL 1, 1945 INVASION AND 82 DAY BATTLE FOR OKINAWA. RETURNED TO GUAM IN PREPARATION FOR THE INVASION OF JAPAN. AFTER THE JAPANESE SURRENDER HE WAS SENT TO TSINGTAO, CHINA AND PARTICIPATED IN THE FORMAL SURRENDER OF THE JAPANESE GARRISON AT TSINGTAO. DISCHARGED ON DECEMBER 11, 1945 AND LATER RECALLED INTO THE MARINE CORPS DURING THE KOREAN CONFLICT.