World War II Honoree

Angelo Bortolo Bertelli

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

West Springfield, Massachusetts

Honored By

Friends of American Heroes

WHILE AT NOTRE DAME, HE ENLISTED IN THE U.S. MARINE CORPS RESERVE IN 1942 PRIOR TO HIS ACTIVATION TO ACTIVE DUTY IN THE FALL OF 1943. IN 1944, HE WAS PROMOTED TO THE RANK OF SECOND LIEUTENANT, WHERE HE SERVED AS AN INFANTRY AND RECREATION OFFICER. AFTER STOPS AT QUANTICO, CAMP LEJEUNE AND CAMP PENDLETON, HE EMBARKED TO PARTICIPATE IN COMBAT OPERATIONS IN THE PACIFIC. AFTER ARRIVING FROM GUAM IN FEBRUARY 1945, HE FOUGHT IN THE BATTLE OF IWO JIMA AND WAS NEARLY KILLED WHEN A JAPANESE MORTAR SHELL LANDED 15 FEET AWAY FROM HIS POSITION. HE RETURNED TO GUAM IN MARCH AND SERVED IN SASEBO, JAPAN, BEFORE RETURNING TO THE STATES IN MARCH 1946. HE SERVED FOR 12 MORE YEARS AND ATTAINED THE RANK OF CAPTAIN.