Dominic Panetta

WORLD WAR II

Corporal Dominic Panetta

U.S. Marine Corps

September 30, 1918 – June 21, 1945

Citations: Purple Heart, Medal of Liberty

Corporal Dominic Panetta enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps and entered active duty on January 14, 1942. On July 1, 1944, his division left for an assault landing on Guam then proceeded with successful attacks on other targets in the Pacific.

The next combat assignment was Okinawa, making 15 landings on outward islands, suffering casualties from enemy suicide attacks, and finally assaulting Okinawa on May 1, 1945. Fighting slowly against extremely heavy enemy resistance and rough terrain, they successfully sealed enemy cave positions in June.

Corporal Panetta died in the Battle of Okinawa on June 21, 1945, two days after he was sounded in action. Upon return of his body to the U.S., and following a solemn high mass at St. Joseph’s Church in Lincoln, his remains were interred in Mount Pleasant Cemetery in Arlington.