Rome, NY WWII Fallen

CPL John P. Mannino

U.S. Army 32853612

Company C, 36th Tank Battalion, 8th Armored Division

John Peter Mannino was born January 1, 1925, in Frankfort, Herkimer County, New York, to Rosario Charles (1889-1974) and Maria Lombardo (1893-1962) Mannino. Rosario and Maria were born in Montelepre, City of Palermo, Sicily, Italy. Rosario was a veteran of the Italian Army and fought in the Italian-Turkish conflict in 1912. He immigrated to the United States in 1913, became a naturalized citizen on June 22, 1918, and from July 1918 to July 1919, served with the U.S. Army’s 51st Pioneer Infantry in World War I in France and Germany. Rosario and Maria were married in Montelepre, Sicily, on April 10, 1920. Their first son, Vincenzo (James) was born at San Giuseppe Jato, Italy, in 1921. Rosario returned to Frankfort, New York, on January 27, 1923, and Maria and Vincenzo joined him there in April 1923. Rosario worked for the Union Fork and Hoe Company. In 1947, they moved to Rome, New York, where Rosario worked at Pettibone-Mulliken Corporation. He retired in 1954.

John was the second of four sons born to the Manninos. His siblings were Vincenzo “James” (1921-2009), Thomas (1927-2013), and Salvator Michael “Samuel” (1934-2010). PFC James Mannino served in the U.S. Army during World War II.

John graduated from Frankfort High School in 1942. He was the manager of the high school basketball team during his senior year. John registered for the draft in Ilion, New York, on January 2, 1943, the day after his 18th birthday. John was 5’ 9 ½ “ tall, weighed 170 pounds, and had blue eyes and black hair. He lived with his parents at 125 Canal Street, in Frankfort, NY, and worked as assistant manager for Loblaw Groceries, Inc. in Frankfort, NY.

His Mom, Maria and his brother James - undated

John was drafted into the U.S. Army on March 20, 1943, in Utica, New York. He trained at Camp Polk, Louisiana, in Company C of the 36th Tank Battalion, 8th Armored Division. While on a 14-day furlough, he married Rose Mercurio of Rome, New York, on August 19, 1944, at St. Mary’s Church. She lived with her parents in Rome while John was overseas. Her sister, Isabel, married John’s brother, James, in 1944.

Cpl. Mannino was sent overseas in November 1944. In April 1945, the U.S. 8th Armored Division was actively advancing across western and central Germany as part of the final Allied offensive in the European Theater of World War II. C Company was the leading tank company in an operation toward Unna, Germany, on April 9, 1945. According to the After Action Report (see below), the lead tank was knocked out by fire from a German tank located in Hemmerde.

Cpl John P. Mannino was reported killed in action at Unna, Germany, on April 9, 1945, at age 20. His wife, Rose, received the telegram from the War Department on April 19, 1945. Rose was living with her parents in Rome, NY, but immediately went to John’s parents’ home in Frankfort after receiving the news.

According to the Report for New York from the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, WWII, the body of Cpl. John Mannino was non recoverable. He is remembered on the Tablets of the Missing at Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery and Memorial in Hombourg, Liege, Belgium. Posthumously he received the Purple Heart and the Rome, New York, Medal of Honor.

On May 4, 1945, Frankfort High School dedicated a plaque to the sixteen former pupils who have given their lives in war service. Cpl. John Mannino was among those so honored.

On Memorial Day, May 30, 1945, the communities in Herkimer County, New York, honored at least 200 servicemen who gave their lives in World War II. Cpl. John Mannino was among those from Frankfort, New York.

May 29, 1953, Baldwin Branck Post of the American Legion, Frankfort, New York, unveiled a monument paying tribute to 28 World War II and Korean War dead. Cpl. John Mannino is honored on the monument located in Pleasant Avenue Park in Frankfort.

Cpl. John Mannino is listed on page 41 of the Herkimer County NY WWII Fallen, and on page 9102, U.S. Rosters of World War II Dead.

In 1947, Rose Mercurio Mannino (1925-2006) married Larry Migliori (1926-2021). Larry served as a Staff Sergeant in the 35th Infantry in World War II.

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/56283354/john-peter-mannino

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/46125490/rose_migliori

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/46125254/rosario_charles_mannino

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/46125253/maria_mannino

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/92891652/james_vincenzo_joseph-mannino

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/92891749/isabel_mannino

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/223775468/thomas-j-mannino

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/78314394/salvator_michael_mannino

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/46125484/larry_j_migliori

Fold3.com: