Louis James Barnaba was born March 11, 1921 in Utica, NY to Vincenzo (James) Barnaba (1880-1947) and Raffaelina Mazza (1888-1966). His parents were both from Italy and were married on July 28, 1913 in Utica, NY. His dad found work in a local store and then in a cotton mill. His mom was a homemaker. He was the youngest of their four children which included Jennie (1914-1987), David (1917-1992) and Mary Ann (1920-2000). The 1930 U.S. Census recorded that his dad came to the U.S. in 1905 and his mom came in 1907. He graduated from the Brandegee School in Utica, NY.

When Louis registered for the draft he was living at 706 Catherine St., Utica, NY. and working for International Heater Co. on Park Ave and Broad St. in Utica. He was 5'-7" tall and weighed 198 pounds with brown eyes and black hair. He registered in Utica, NY on February 15, 1942. He was drafted into the U.S. Army on November 28, 1942 through Utica, NY with service number 32664419. He was single with no dependents at the time. He did his basic training at Fort Jackson, S.C. and Fort Bragg, N.C. In September 1944 he was attached to a replacement company that would eventually find him in southern France with the 15th Infantry Regiment, which was part of the famed 3rd Infantry Division.

After landing in southern France in August 1944 (Operation Dragoon), the 3rd Infantry Division advanced rapidly up the Rhône Valley. By October, the advance slowed as they entered the heavily forested and mountainous Vosges region. The terrain and weather were extremely difficult—dense woods, rain, fog, and stiff German resistance. On or about October 26, 1944, the 15th Infantry Regiment was conducting assaults and defensive operations east of the Meurthe River, with objectives aimed at breaking through toward Saint-Dié. Pfc. Barnaba was killed in action on October 26, 1944 and buried in the Epinal American Cemetery and Memorial in Lorraine, France, Plot B, Row 36, Grave 6. He was awarded the Purple Heart posthumously.

This story is part of the Stories Behind the Stars project. This is a national effort of volunteers to write the stories of all 421,000+ of the US WWII fallen on Together We Served and Fold3.

(Please see - http://www.storiesbehindthestars.org).

Can you help us write these stories? Together We Served and Fold3/Find A Grave have smartphone apps that will allow people to visit any war memorial or cemetery and read these stories of WWII fallen.

If you noticed anything erroneous in this profile or have additional information to contribute, please contact Jim Greenberg at jim.greenberg@oneonta.edu.

SBTSProject/New York/Oneida

Sources

"2 Uticans Killed by Nazis in France After Enjoying Reunion Abroad", Utica Daily Press, Utica, NY, December 8, 1944, pg.10. (date was illegible, Dec. 8 is a "best guess").

3rd Infantry Division Map, Historyshots.com, accessed October 30, 2025.

"5 Killed, 2 Missing in Action", Utica Observer-Dispatch, Utica, NY, December 29, 1944, pg. 2

Ancestry.com. New York, U.S., County Marriage Records, 1847-1849, 1907-1936 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2016.

Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56371059/louis_j-barnaba: accessed October 30, 2025), memorial page for PFC Louis J Barnaba (11 Mar 1921–26 Oct 1944), Find a Grave Memorial ID 56371059, citing Epinal American Cemetery and Memorial, Epinal, Departement des Vosges, Lorraine, France; Maintained by MAJ Jimmy Cotton (contributor 48803557).

National Archives at College Park; College Park, Maryland, USA; Electronic Army Serial Number Merged File, 1938-1946; NAID: 1263923; Record Group Title: Records of the National Archives and Records Administration, 1789-ca. 2007; Record Group: 64; Box Number: 05472; Reel: 211

National Archives at St. Louis; St. Louis, Missouri; Wwii Draft Registration Cards For New York State, 10/16/1940 - 03/31/1947; Record Group: Records of the Selective Service System, 147

New York State Archives; Albany, New York; State Population Census Schedules, 1925; Election District: 01; Assembly District: 01; City: Utica Ward 08; County: Oneida; Page: 11

Kershaw, Alex, presentation for The Dr. Harold C. Deutsch World War II History Roundtable, Campaigns of the 3rd Infantry Division: From Africa to Bavaria,

Year: 1930; Census Place: Utica, Oneida, New York; Page: 11B; Enumeration District: 0098; FHL microfilm: 2341356

Supporting Documents