World War II Honoree

Alfred M. Grottaglio

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

Long Island City, New York

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

Rank: Private First Class. Inducted into the United States Marine Corps December 5, 1942 at New York City, New York, with recruit training assigned to the Tenth Recruit Battalion Training Regiment; Marine Corps Base Parris Island, South Carolina. Upon his graduation from Boot Camp, he was transferred to Camp Geiger, North Carolina for combat training. Following basic and advanced infantry training, he served as a Rifleman with Kilo Company, Third Battalion, First Marine Regiment an element of the First Marine ‘the Old Breed’ Division. His division participated in the amphibious assault on the Island of Peleliu (Battle Dates: September 15-November 27, 1944) Code Name: Operation Stalemate II. Location: Western Pacific Theater of Operations. He died of wounds encountered on the battlefield against the Imperial Japanese forces, and buried at sea September 15, 1944. In remembrance of the brave, his name is permanently inscribed in the tablets of the missing, memorialized at the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial Location: Fort Bonifacio, Manila, Philippine Islands. In his Memory and Honor, a cenotaph has been placed at the Saint Charles Cemetery Location: East Farmingdale, New York. This American Patriot received the following decorations posthumously: Silver Star and the Purple Heart. The Silver Star was awarded for Distinguished Gallantry in Action and Valor in Combat against an enemy force, and the Purple Heart for his ultimate sacrifice.