World War II Honoree

Patrick J. Costello

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

Jersey City, New Jersey

Honored By

Grateful American

ENLISTED AT AGE 17 AND SERVED WITH THE FOURTH MARINE DIVISION IN THE PACIFIC. AFTER BEING WOUNDED TWICE, HE WAS ASSIGNED TO MARINE HEADQUARTERS IN WASHINGTON, D.C., WHERE HE CONTINUED HIS DUTY AS A MEMBER OF THE ELITE MARINE HONOR GUARD FOR SERVICE AT THE WHITE HOUSE, THE STATE DEPARTMENT AND THE TOMB OF THE UNKNOWN SOLDIER AT ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY. HE WAS HONORED TO BE A FUNERAL ESCORT FOR THE BODY OF PRESIDENT FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT FROM UNION STATION TO THE WHITE HOUSE WHERE HE THEN STOOD GUARD AND SERVED AS A PALLBEARER FOR THE PRESIDENT'S FUNERAL. HE RECEIVED TWO PURPLE HEARTS.