Victor Joseph DeGuglielmo was born January 3, 1924 in Lawrence, Massachusetts, the son of Joseph and Susie DeGuglielmo. Both parents had emmigrated to the US from Italy some years before. He enlisted in Boston on March 26, 1943 and went to Parris Island for training. He became attached to Battery M, 4th Battalion, 14th Marines, 4th Marine Division August 25, 1943. He was a member of a 105mm Howitzer battery on Saipan when his position was hit by mortar fire. He and two others of the team were killed when the shell exploded at their position. He was first buried June 17 at the 4th Marine Cemetery, Plot 1, Row 17, grave 94 on Saipan. Victor's remains were sent back to the US in 1947 and he was buried in Holy Cross Cemetery in Malden, Massachusetts.
On January 12, 1944, Victor embarked aboard LSD-4 at San Diego and arrived at Kwajalein Atoll on January 31, 1944 where he participated in the battle of Roi and Namur until February 5, 1944. He was there until February 8, 1944 when sent back to Maui, T.H. On May 13, 1944 he embarked on the USS LST 340 and arrived at Saipan on D Day June 15, 1944.
According to Gordon Bien who was one of the gun crew, mortars came in that night and one landed on their position. Of the 7 man gun crew, three were killed, three wounded and Bien was unscathed. According to Bien, "Two were killed outright, Victor DeGuglielmo and Philip DiCorpo. Mike Banas was a big Pole. We heard him calling out all night–'Maria, Maria'. We didn't know if he was calling for his mother or the Virgin Mary. There was nothing we could do for Banas. After a while, he was quiet." A complete transcript of Bien's comments can be found at:
http://www.bnd.com/2007/10/21/158358/our-war-still-a-marine-wwii-combatant.html
A video done by Gordon Bien on this incident can be found at this link:
http://media.bnd.com/smedia/2007/10/19/02/102107gordonbien.source.prod_affiliate.98.mov
PFC DeGuglielmo's group includes his officially engraved Type 1 posthumous Purple Heart with its small presentation box as issued by the US Mint. Also included is DeGuglielmo's service record file from St. Louis.
PFC DeGuglielmo was posthumously awarded a bronze star for his service on Saipan. The copy is shown below.
Spring 2022 sold to a collector.
