Frank William Celentano
"Red"
Marine Corps Reserve | Service Number 472472
May 18, 1922
in New York, NY
Francesco Celentano
Laura Jean “Jennie” (Pallman) Celentano
Details unknown
Lane Lifeboat & Davit Company
September 28, 1942
at New York, NY
November 29, 1942
from Casual Company, New River, NC
February 2, 1944
Wounded and evacuated from Namur
September 19, 1944
Discharged as result of medical survey
4720 45th Street, Woodside, Queens, NY – address of mother, Mrs. Jennie Celentano
Service & Campaigns
Enlisted 28 September 1942 at New York, NY. Boot camp at Parris Island with 11th Recruit Battalion; completed training at Marine Base New River, North Carolina.
Joined Charlie Company, First Separate Battalion (Reinforced) at New River on 29 November 1942.
Outfit: C/1/24th Marines
Rank: Private First Class
MOS: 745 (Rifleman)
Important Events:
February 1-2, 1944 wounded in action (traumatic amputation, left forearm); evacuated to USS Doyen.
Awarded Navy Cross for actions in this battle:
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Private First Class Frank W. Celentano (MCSN: 472472), United States Marine Corps Reserve, for extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty while serving with Company C, First Battalion, Twenty-Fourth Marines, FOURTH Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces during the invasion of Namur Island, Kwajalein Atoll, 1 February 1944. Occupying a section of a Japanese fire trench with five other men when an enemy hand grenade was thrown into the trench, Private First Class Celentano unhesitatingly took the initiative and, heroically disregarding all personal danger, seized the weapon and threw it from the trench, saving the lives of his men but losing his own hand when the deadly missile exploded as he released it. Concerned only for the safety of his comrades in their precarious positions, he remained as he was, unattended throughout the night, making no outcry and refusing to yield to his pain least he endanger them. His steadfast courage, unyielding fortitude and valiant spirit of self-sacrifice reflect the highest credit upon Private First Class Celentano and the United States Naval Service.
[Note: the official dates of Celentano’s awards differ, although they were awarded for the same action. The Navy Cross is dated to February 1, while the Purple Heart is dated to February 2.]
Transferred from USS Doyen to USS Solace for surgery and treatment. Admitted to USNH Mare Island, California, 18 March 1944.
Awarded Navy Cross at Mare Island on 21 July 1944. Honorably discharged on report of medical survey, 19 September 1944.
Individual Decorations
Medal
Navy Cross
Purple Heart
Campaign
Roi-Namur (February 1, 1944)
Roi-Namur (February 2, 1944)
robert celentano i am sorry to read of your dads passing. i remember you telling stories of him. semper fi tom curtis
My grandfather, who went by the nickname “Red” showed me his Marine Corp yearbook. He was in the same unit as Lee Marvin. He told me that in the picture with Nimitz awarding him the Navy Cross, he bit his lip from speaking out. In his words, he said he didn’t deserve a medal; it was all his friends that died there that deserved it. After his hand was blown off, he held a picture of my grandmother all night long. He showed me the wallet sized photo with his blood stains still on it. He almost never talked about the war with anyone. When asked by children what happened to his hand, he would tell them that his ball went into the street and when he went to get it, a car ran it over. Then he would tell them never to run into the street; he never would admit to being a war hero. He kept in touch with his best friend from the war, taking me with him on a visit in the next town over. He took me to Paris Island boot camp, where he was a regular visitor. He taught me to fold my clothes like a Marine. In his words” once a Marine, always a marine.
He told me that he and his brother volunteered immediately after hearing about Pearl Harbor.
As I’ve been told by family, my grandfather Frank, who went by “Red” for his red hair, only ever told one family member the particulars of losing his hand. He told his eldest son, Robert Celentano, who had seen action as a Marine in Saigon during the Tet Offensive. Accordingly, Red was among a small group of Marines that rowed ashore to help direct ship fire as the Navy pounded the island from offshore. When a troop of Japanese came upon his group, Red was in a foxhole when a Japanese soldier jumped into the foxhole and fought him in hand-to-hand combat. Surprised and realizing he would likely die, he figured he would take the Japanese soldier out with him, pulled out a grenade and held it behind the Japanese soldiers head. Miraculously, Red survived but lost his hand. He kept quiet throughout the night to keep any other Japanese finding their position. Decades later, he told me he had no animosity toward the Japanese.