May 2024 Honor A Deceased Veteran – Carmen J. Ciccarelli

HONOR-A-DECEASED-VETERAN
May 2024
Carmen J. Ciccarelli

FAMILY HISTORY:
Carmen J. Ciccarelli was born on February 26, 1922 in Troy, New York. He was the son of Michael and Angeline (Pitaniello) Ciccarelli, and the brother of Frank, Alphonso, and Vito Ciccarelli.

EDUCATION:
 Carmen grew up in Troy, New York and received his education through the Troy Public School System up to his Junior year when he left to help support the family.

HISTORY:
On November 17, 1938, Carmen enlisted in the Troy National Guard in Troy, New York.

PERSONAL:
Carmen was a proud first-generation Italian American Citizen, where his family resided at 7 Havermans Avenue, Troy New York which is just a few doors away from the Crab Garrison 1954.  At the age of 16 with the prospects of war looming, Carmen lied about his age and enlisted in the National Guard. The Guard Unit was located at the Troy Armory on 15^th Street.

Carmen was assigned to the 27^th infantry Division, 105^th Regiment, 1^st Battalion, Company D. Company D was made-up of machine gun squads.  Staff Sergeant Ciccarelli was a Company D machine gun squad leader.  The 105^th 1^st Battalion was made up of many Troy residents.

On December 7^th 1941 the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor and war was declared.  The 27^th Division was immediately mobilized, receiving additional training at Fort McClellan, Alabama and in early March 1942 the 105^th Regiment 1^st Battalion boarded the Steamship Aquitania for the crossing to Honolulu to bolster Hawaiian defenses.

In June 1944 the 27^th Division was ordered to support the Marines in taking Saipan, the largest of the Northern Mariana Islands.  This was planned as part of our island-hopping strategy to get closer to Japan so that long-range bombers could attack Japan’s home islands.

On July 7^th as it looked like the US would secure the Island, thousands of Japanese emerged overwhelming the 1^st and 2^nd Battalions of the 105^th.  Carmen bravely stayed at his machine gun fighting off the Japanese, where he was later severely wounded.  When the US forces recovered and fought off the attack Carmen was located.  Sadly, on July 12, 1944, Carmen was killed in action.  He was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart for is actions.