Rome, NY WWII Fallen

PFC. ARTHUR A. PETTINELLI

U.S. ARMY #32859498

43RD Infantry Division, 103rd Infantry Regiment, Company A

Winged Victory Division

Arthur (Arturo) Anthony Pettinelli was born March 16, 1925, in Southbridge, Worcester County, Massachusetts, to Raffaele “Ralph” (1893-1960) and Maria Stromei (1904-1992) Pettinelli. His only sibling, Severino Ralph Pettinelli, was born in Italy in 1923.

Raffaele was born in Tocco Cassuria Pescara, Abruzzi, Italy. He emigrated from Naples, Italy, on March 16, 1912, on the S.S. Adriatic, docking in New York harbor on March 28, 1912. He became a naturalized citizen of the United States on September 20, 1918. Ralph served in the U.S. Army during World War I. He was stationed at Camp Devons, Massachusetts, as a stationery fireman, at the time of his application for citizenship. Ralph returned to Italy on the S.S. Arabic in April 1922 to visit his parents. At that time, he lived in Southbridge, Massachusetts, and worked as a lens molder. His wife, Maria Stromei, immigrated to the United States in March 1924, along with their son, Severino. They sailed from Naples, Italy, on the SS. Colombo. Maria attained U.S. citizenship in February 1940.

In the 1930 U.S. Census, the Pettinelli family lived at 111 Fourth Street, in Rome, Oneida County, New York. Ralph was employed as a laborer at a “kettle works” (Revere Copper and Brass). In the 1940 U.S. Census, the Pettinelli family lived at 611 Woodland Avenue, Rome, Oneida County, New York. Ralph continued as a laborer at Revere Copper and Brass. Arthur and Severino were students. Ralph was an active member of the Rocco Racco Post 4 Veterans of World War I.

In the 1950 U.S. Census, the Pettinelli family was again living in Southbridge, Worcester County, Massachusett, having moved there in 1947. Ralph was a molder at an optical shop, Maria worked at a print shop, and Severino was an electrical engineer. The family later moved to New Haven, Connecticut.

Arthur attended St. Mary’s School and was a carrier boy for the Rome, NY, Daily Sentinel.

Arthur registered for the draft on his 20th birthday, March 16, 1945, in Rome, New York. He was 5’ 7 ½” tall, weighed 155 pounds, and had brown hair and brown eyes. He reported living with his parents at 611 Woodlawn Avenue, Rome, and working at Loblaw’s Grocery Store.

Arthur was inducted into the U.S. Army on June 10, 1943, and received basic training at Camp Wheeler, Georgia. On October 30, 1943, Pvt. Pettinelli was one of many enlisted men transferred from Company B, 12th Training Battalion, Camp Wheeler, Georgia, to the Army Ground Forces Personnel Replacement Depot No. 2 at Fort Ord, California, Company G, 1st Replacement Regiment (Infantry).

Enroute to the Pacific Theater, Arthur met up with his brother, Pvt. Severino Pettinelli, who was stationed at Fort Ord, California. Severino attained the rank of Tec4 during WWII.

Pvt. Pettinelli sailed from San Franciso, California, on the U.S.S. John Pope on December 10, 1943. On December 30, 1943, Arthur was one of many transferred to the HQ 6th Replacement Depot. His MOS was 745, Rifleman.

The Company Morning Report of January 14, 1944, listed Pvt. Pettinelli as a member of Company C, 28th Replacement Battalion, New Caledonia. The Company Morning Report of January 22, 1944, listed Pvt Pettinelli as returning to this company from 27th Station Hospital where he had been “absent sick.”

April 21, 1944, Pvt. Pettinelli was admitted to the 39th General Hospital in New Caledonia. He was serving in Company A, 103rd Infantry Regiment. The Company Morning Report of May 31, 1944, reported he was transferred from “sick in line of duty” back to Company A, 103rd Infantry Regiment, Camp Gubbs, New Zealand.

The Company Morning Report of July 21, 1944, Company A, 103rd Infantry Regiment, Aitape, New Guinea, reported Pvt. Pettinelli “from duty to sick in quarters, line of duty.”

The Company Morning Report of July 31, 1944, Company A, 103rd Infantry Regiment, Kamti, New Guinea, reported Pvt. Pettinelli “from sick in quarters, line of duty, to duty.”

From “A Brief History,” 43rd Infantry Division Veterans Association website: https://www.43rd-infantry-division.org/history

After a concentrated training period, the Division deployed to Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands in February 1943. This served as the staging area for the next move to the Russell Islands, also in the Solomons. The Russells proved to be unoccupied by Japs. Further jungle and realistic combat training took place. In June and early July 1943, the Division landed on Rendova and New Georgia Islands. The objective here was to take the Munda Airfield on which the Japanese had started construction.

In December 1943 / January 1944, the Division returned to New Zealand. After a period of rest and relaxation during which the soldiers of the 43rd became fast friends with the Kiwis, a friendship that endures to this day, the 43rd absorbed many replacements. Vigorous and intensive training took place for several months. In July 1944 the Division became part of the force driving the Japs from New Guinea. Landing at Aitape, the 43rd prevented the Japs from reinforcing their troops along the Drinimour River. This successful campaign evolved into preparation for the invasion of the Philippine Islands.

On January 9, 1945, the 43rd Infantry Division participated in the amphibious landing at Lingayen Gulf, Luzon.

PFC. Arthur Pettinelli was killed in action on Luzon, Philippines, on January 15, 1945, at age 19. In August 1948, PFC Pettinelli was buried in Plot H, 9565, Long Island National Cemetery, East Farmingdale, Suffolk County, New York.

PFC Pettinelli was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart and the Rome (NY) Medal of Honor. He was remembered in August, 1945, as one of the 81 men from Rome, New York, who gave their lives in World War II.

PFC Pettinelli is remembered on Page 110, World War II Honor List of Dead and Missing Army and Army Air Forces Personnel from New York, 1946, and on Page 11573 of the U.S. Rosters of World War II Dead, 1939-1945. He is also remembered at HonorStates.org and MyFallenSoldiers.com.

PFC Pettinelli is among those listed on GenealogyTrails.com, World War II, Army and Air Force, Honor List of Dead and Missing Personnel, Oneida County, New York.

On May 15, 1946, Maria Pettinelli was honored as one of seventeen Gold Star Mothers in attendance at the annual dinner of the Auxiliary of the Henry P. Smith Post 24, American Legion, Rome, New York.

May 30, 1946, Rome, New York, held its annual Memorial Day ceremonies in Gansevoort Park at 7 p.m. No parade was held. The Gold Star Mothers were honored guests and included Maria Pettinelli.

Ralph (Raffaele) Pettinelli died on June 15, 1960, in New Haven, Connecticut. Maria Pettinelli died in 1992. The Pettinellis are buried in the Saint Lawrence Cemetery, West Haven, New Haven County, Connecticut. Their family headstone is engraved Pettinelli, “Father, Raffaele, 1893-1960” and “Mother, Maria, 1904-1992” and “Son PFC Arthur A., 1925-1945, Interred in U.S. National Cemetery, L.I.” (Long Island).

End notes: This story is part of the Stories Behind the Stars Project, a national effort of volunteers to write the stories of all 421,000+ of the US WWII fallen saved on Together We Served and Fold3 web sites. Can you help write these stories? These stories will be accessible via smartphone app at any war memorial or cemetery. If you noticed anything erroneous in this profile or have additional information to contribute to it, please contact hillerson@beyondbb.com.

Sources:

FindAGrave:

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/2785145/arthur-a-pettinelli

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/279165688/arthur_a-pettinelli

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/22025307/severino-ralph-pettinelli

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/279165647/raffaele-pettinelli

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/279165543/maria-pettinelli

HonorStates.org: https://www.honorstates.org/profiles/407538/

Fold3.com:

https://www.fold3.com/record/700741416/blank-us-wwii-hospital-admission-card-files-1942-1954

https://www.fold3.com/image/310770918/new-york-page-110-us-wwii-army-and-army-air-force-casualty-list-1946

https://www.fold3.com/image/712948488/us-rosters-of-world-war-ii-dead-1939-1945-page-11573-us-rosters-of-world-war-ii-dead-1939-1945