Ralph T. Marino was born on March 24, 1913 in Oneonta, New York. His father was Frank Marino (1877–1963) who migrated in 1902 to the United States from Italy and his mother was Jennie M Mathews (1896–1979). They were married around 1911 and had fourteen children, seven girls and seven boys. Ralph was the second oldest. Frank was section hand on the railroad. Ralph completed four years of high school. He worked at a service station and was active in St. Mary’s Catholic Church, especially the Holy Name society.

In 1938, along with thirteen young men from Oneonta, he joined the New York National Guard Company G, bringing the company to almost full strength. At this time the company engaged in maneuvers on Swart Hollow road in rural Delaware County. In 1940, the New York National Guard was absorbed into the U.S. Army and in October of that year Company G went to Ft. McClellan, Alabama for basic training. Later, many of the men in the company were transferred to various units throughout the country. The company was broken up in accordance with a policy established by the War Department. The policy was designed to reduce mass casualties coming from a single community. Ralph along with few other men from Company G was sent to Hawaii. From March to October 1942 he served as part of the Hawaiian defense.

In the Pacific theater of the war, he fought on the Marshall Islands and Saipan after which he was sent to Okinawa. Staff Sgt. George Mills, a former member of Company G, was with Ralph on Okinawa and described the fighting for Movietone News as “The Japs [sic, Japanese’s] were dug in like rats on Okinawa. They seemed to shoot a lot straighter and had much heavier artillery. As far as suicide planes were concerned, we paid little attention to them. … We had quite a few close calls from Jap [sic, Japanese’s] artillery, and many of shells kicked up a lot of dirt around our fox holes at the time.”  Ralph was killed in action of Okinawa on April 21, 1945; Mills attended his funeral services that took place at the US Armed Forces Island Command Cemetery, Okinawa. He was buried in Plot 2, Row 15, Grave 456.  On July 31, 1948, his body was disinterred and escorted home my Sgt. John R. Johnston with his personal effects. On March 17, 1949, his body arrived at the Oneonta train station and was met by his former comrades of Company G. His serial number was 20270344. He was 32 years old.

 If you notice anything erroneous in this profile or have additional information to contribute to it, please contact Jim Greenberg at nez13820@gmail.com. 

Sources:

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: 03383; Reel: 60

https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/7290796:8939?tid=&pid=&queryId=c4a2308c815e11d617cc6eef9c2196f3&_phsrc=NtK17471&_phstart=successSource  accessed October 24, 2022

Year: 1940; Census Place: Oneonta, Otsego, New York; Roll: m-t0627-02717; Page: 9A; Enumeration District: 39-34 https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/6239155:2442

accessed October 30, 2022

Year: 1930; Census Place: Oneonta, Otsego, New York; Page: 3A; Enumeration District: 0028; FHL microfilm: 2341370 https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/44434777:6224

accessed October 24, 2022

Year: 1920; Census Place: Oneonta, Otsego, New York; Roll: T625_1255; Page: 1A; Enumeration District: 208 https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/110991407:6061

 accessed October 30, 2022

Ancestry.com. New York, U.S., World War II Enlisted Men Cards, 1940-1945 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012.

https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/27471:2341  November 1, 2022

Ancestry.com. U.S., Find a Grave Index, 1600s-Current [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012. https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/125980494:60525 November 1, 2022

New York State Archives; Albany, New York; State Population Census Schedules, 1925; Election District: 01; Assembly District: 01; City: Oneonta Ward 02; County: Otsego; Page: 48

https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/20312028:2704  November 1, 2022

Find a Grave, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/152565374/ralph-t-marino, accessed January 1, 2023.

New York National Guard enlisted men and noncommissioned officers activated for federal service during World War II. New York (State). National Guard. Infantry Division, 27th United States, Army. Infantry. New York State Military Museum and Veterans Research Center, Saratoga Springs, New York.

Supporting Files