Carmen Anthony Ramputi
"Ramp"
Marine Corps Reserve | Service Number 443795
May 28, 1924
in Beacon, NY
Alfonso Ramputi
Santarella (Frederick) Ramputi
Beacon High School
Stewart Airfield (Newburgh, NY)
August 25, 1942
at Albany, NY
October 19, 1942
from 6th Sep. Recruit Bn., New River
February 1, 1944
Killed in action at Namur
February 1, 1944
Killed in action
109 Verplanck Avenue, Beacon, NY –home of mother, Mrs. Santarella “Cinderella” Ramputi
Service & Campaigns
Boot camp with 6th Separate Recruit Battalion, New River, NC. Outposted directly to HQ Company, First Separate Battalion (Reinforced) on 19 October 1942. Transferred to D Company on 10 November 1942.
Outfit: D/1/24th Marines (3rd MG Platoon)
Rank: PFC
MOS: 604 (machine gunner)
Important Events:
February 1, 1944 – killed in action at Namur (shrapnel, head & neck); reportedly while charging a Japanese position shortly after nightfall.
Individual Decorations
Medal
Purple Heart
Campaign
Namur (Feb. 1, 1944)
Citation
Service Stories
“I do not know how many men we lost along the way. I saw the body of Carmen Ramputi, one of the company comedians. Steve Navara was lying on his back, staring at the sky with unseeing eyes. My friend Parkison died, and I noticed he bled all over a picture of his wife to be. They were among my close personal friends. All through the war, when I saw a dead man with his eyes wide open, I wondered what he was looking at when his soul left his body.”
Dear Mrs. Ramputi,
This letter is written on behalf of myself and the men of my platoon. I was your son's platoon leader and I knew him very well. We were together for over a year, and he was a good Marine and a good worker.
Please believe me when I say this: your son was one of the best-liked men in the entire company. He was a great morale builder, full of fun and always willing to lend a helping hand. He was always on good terms with all his buddies, and one could never get mad at him – and I for one can vouch for that.
Your son did not die in vain. We suffered losses and for every one of our dead we killed ten times as many Japs. He died fighting and for sure that was the way he would want it. Your son died on the night of Feb. 1, 1944; he was charging some Japs and he was hit by a bullet. He died instantly and did not suffer. His buddies will never forget him. He showed courage and a great deal of initiative.
Your son's loss was a great blow to us, and we offer our deepest sympathy. He was buried with full military honors, attended by a Catholic priest on the island of Roi in the Marshalls.
I know how you feel about losing your son, because I too suffered a great loss – my family. So therefore I share your son's loss as one that will never be forgotten.
If anything arouses a doubt in your mind, please do not hesitate to write to me and I'll do more than my best to be of service to you. I remain,
Respectfully yours,
1st Lt. Alexander Santilli USMCR
