PFC Dominick Taormina Purple Heart reverse

PFC Dominick N. Taorima, USMCR Purple Heart reverse
Killed in Action, 20 February 1945
Aged 22

Dominick Taormina was from Brooklyn, NY. He enlisted in the Marine Corps in October 1942. Upon completion of his training at Parris Island, he was assigned to Parachute School, Parachute Battalion, at Camp Lejeune, NC. From there, he was assigned to Company A, 1st Parachute Battalion, 1st Marine Parachute Regiment, I Marine Amphibious Corps.

As a member of the 1st Parachute Battalion, PFC Taormina participated in his elite unit's combat actions during the fighting on Bougainville in 1943. This included the Koiari Beach Raid, fighting alongside elements of the 3d Raider Battalion.

When the Paramarine Regiment was disbanded in 1944, the 1st Parachute Battalion unit was absorbed into the 26th Marines, 5th Marine Division. As a member of 3rd Battalion, Taormina would participate in the assault of Iwo Jima in February 1945. A member of Company I, he landed on Blue 2 on D-Day. He was killed in action on the second day of the battle. His casualty card notes that he suffered multiple extreme wounds to the abdomen and jaw.

22-year old PFC Dominick Taormina was survived by his mother, father, and two sisters. Sadly his mother Francesca Taormina died on 29 April 1945, after an apparent suicide.