Robert George DeLong was born January 28, 1923, in Fort Plain, Montgomery County, New York, to Charles B. and Lillian Race (1904-1936) DeLong. Charles married Lillian in Rome, New York, on August 7, 1918. Charles listed his occupation as soldier. Robert was the second of three sons born to Charles and Lillian. Robert’s brothers were Albert (1921-1964) and Richard (1927-1970). Lillian died on February 1, 1936, at age 32. In the 1940 U.S. Census, Charles is working as a tool setter and Albert is packing kettles, both at Revere Copper and Brass in Rome, NY. In the 1950 U.S. Census, Charles is a machine operator at Revere Copper and Brass, and has remarried to Louise (?). PFC Albert DeLong and Pvt. Richard DeLong both served in the U.S. Army in WWII.

Robert registered for the draft on June 30, 1942, in Rome, Oneida County, New York. He was 5’11” tall, weighed 170 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes. He was living at 154 W. Dominick Street in Rome, NY, with his father. Robert was working as an iron construction worker at the Rome Air Depot with the Union Fork and Hoe Division of Rome Grader.

Robert is drafted into the U.S. Marine Corps on September 20, 1942. He and eight other men from Rome and nearby area were the largest contingent sent from Utica, NY, to Parris Island, South Carolina, for seven weeks of basic training as Marines.

Robert then reported to San Diego, CA, and was shipped to the South Pacific area in February 1943. Robert’s last letter to his father was in March 1944 from Bougainville.

PFC Robert G. DeLong was killed in action on July 28, 1944, according to a telegram received by his father from Lt. Gen. Vandergrift, USMC. The telegram stated neither the time nor the place of Robert’s death. The family was cautioned against divulging the name of Robert’s ship or station. Given the date of his death and the fact that he was initially buried in the cemetery on Guam, Robert was likely killed in action on Guam. The 9th Marines were pushing their way up to Mount Alutom and Mount Chachao (July 27-29) at the time Pfc. DeLong is killed. His name is also listed as one of those killed in action on Guam at the National Park Service site (see https://www.nps.gov/wapa/learn/historyculture/guam-armed-forces-casualties.htm).

On February 16, 1949, PFC Robert G. DeLong was buried in the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu, Hawaii, in Section N, Site 1295. PFC Robert DeLong was the 24th Roman to give his life for his country. He was posthumously awarded the Rome Medal of Honor by the citizens of Rome, New York.  On Sunday, June 6, 1948, Marine Memorial Sunday, five WWII fallen Marines from Rome, New York, were honored, with Robert DeLong being one of them. Tragically, Robert’s brother, Alfred DeLong, also died at a young age. He was swept into Oneida Lake by 35 mph winds in May 1964 while walking on the Barge Canal. He had been fishing at the end of the pier. Albert was 42 years of age.

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/3773132/robert-g-delong

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/13586260/albert-b-delong

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/13653585/richard-c-delong

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/16230089/lillian_delong

Fold3:

https://www.fold3.com/image/671263959?terms=york,draft,war,registration,delong,world,new,ii,robert

https://www.fold3.com/image/311041393?rec=301038878

https://www.fold3.com/image/715123064/1944-page-56727-us-marine-corps-muster-rolls-1798-1958?rec=650709747

https://www.fold3.com/record/716945604/delong-robert-g-us-veterans-gravesites-ca1775-2019

https://www.fold3.com/image/715188985/us-marine-corps-muster-rolls-1798-1958-page-16741-us-marine-corps-muster-rolls-1798-1958?rec=651485095

https://www.fold3.com/record/643062852/robert-george-de-long-us-marine-corps-casualty-indexes-19401958

https://www.fold3.com/image/712940462?rec=641596587

Interment Control Forms, 1928–1962. Interment Control Forms, A1 2110-B. NAID: 5833879. Record Group 92, Records of the Office of the Quartermaster General, 1774–1985. The National Archives at St. Louis, St. Louis, MO.

United States Marine Corps:

https://www.mcrdpi.marines.mil/

https://www.3rdmardiv.marines.mil/About/

The 3rd Marine Division and Its Regiments: https://www.usmcu.edu/Portals/218/HD%20MCUP/HD%20Pubs/The%203D%20Marine%20Division%20and%20its%20Regiments%20%20PCN%2019000317400-unlocked.pdf?ver=2019-05-16-123740-613

National Cemetery Administration: https://www.cem.va.gov/cems/nchp/nmcp.asp

Supporting Documents