WWII Photos:
Francis Baranoski
Eighteen-year-old Francis H. Baranoski arrived in Hawaii during the spring of 1945. He was assigned to duty with the machine gun platoon of A/1/24th Marines, and trained alongside veterans in preparation for the invasion of Japan. Fortunately, the war ended before he saw any combat.
Baranoski remained in Hawaii until July 1946 with the 17th Service Battalion and 6th Service Depot. His beautifully preserved scrapbook depicts life in the waning days of the war and the early days of peace.
All photos courtesy of Joe Baranoski.
- Served With: Able Company
- Collection Timeline: 1945 – 1946
- Locations: Camp Maui, Hawaii
Camp Maui: The 24th Marines
Baranoski's squad leader, Corporal Dominick Piccolomini, at Camp Maui.
PFC George F. McKenna with the squad's machine gun.
PFC Peter Cabrelli, veteran of Iwo Jima.
PFC George H. Calcutt, another Iwo Jima veteran.
The Able Company machine gun platoon, summer of 1945.
Corporal Piccolomini's squad at Camp Maui.
Corporal Piccolomini, PFC Calcutt, and PFC Edward Greayer with the squad's machine gun.
Piccolomini (right) with another veteran gunner, 1945.
Private Roy Othon and Private George McKenna, Camp Maui.
Private Francis Baranoski "back from the field" at Camp Maui.
Baranoski and a pal outside their tent.
"Buddies" at Camp Maui, 1945.
Corporal Piccolomini, Camp Maui.
Swimming on authorized liberty.
Baranoski in the surf, 1945.
Unidentified Marines near the beach, 1945.
Able Company gunners at Camp Maui
Able Company gunners at Camp Maui
Able Company gunners at Camp Maui
Able Company gunners at Camp Maui
The Big Island: 17th Service Battalion
Francis Baranoski at the camp of the 17th Service Battalion, 1945.
Oscar E. Berg and Bert D. Beets – close buddies with Baranoski from the Replacement Draft and A/1/24 machine guns.
Baranoski at the 17th Service Battalion.
Enjoying some Hawaiian scenery, 1945.
The altar of St. Joseph's church in Hilo, Hawaii.
St. Joseph's in Hilo, Hawaii. The church was dedicated in 1917 and is still serving parishoners today.
A trio of LSTs (Landing Ship Tank) await cargo, 1945.
LST-388 (with LCT-812 embarked) in Hawaii. These vessels were veterans of the ETO; both participated in the Normandy landings. Ultimately, they were used as targets for the Bikini Atoll atomic tests and sunk.
Camp of the 17th Service Battalion, 1945.
Living quarters of the 17th Service Battalion, 1945.
Military Police: The 6th Service Depot
Members of the MP Platoon, 6th Service Depot on authorized liberty. 1946.
PFC Baranoski, now a military policeman, stands beside a patrol jeep.
Second Lieutenant Walter M. Bass, the depot fire marshal.
Lt. Bass joins PFCs Robert Bergfeld, Daniel Block, and Thaddeus Klewicki atop a lifeguard's station. 1946.
PFC Luther H. Platt shows off at Windward Beach, Oahu, 1946.
Luther Platt and Robert Bergfeld take a dip in the ocean.
PFC Baranoski in the surf at Windward Beach.
Baranoski takes a leaf out of Platt's book. Windward Beach, Oahu, 1946.
Billy Joe Boules of East St. Louis was one of Baranoski's pals from Able Company.
PFC Boules on liberty.
PFC Boules at the main gate.
PFC Baranoski, all business.
Two Marines (Billy Boules at right) on liberty in Honolulu.
Baranoski guards the "Restricted Area" of the 6th Service Depot, 1946.
Scenes around the Depot.
Scenes around the Depot.
Scenes around the Depot.
Corporal Brenton S. Kirk, Jr. at the duty desk.
A group of MPs awaits orders for the day.
Second Lieutenant Robert E. Kelley, the camp police officer, at the desk.
Interior of the guard house.
Scenes around the Depot.
Scenes around the Depot.
Baranoski gets in some weight training with improvised barbells.
"Our Emblem" – a parody of the Marine Corps Eagle, Globe, and Anchor. "One Way" was slang for putting oneself above others. It's not known if this was an unofficial logo for the 6th Service Depot or just a joke that made its way around.
PFC Dana Burlile was another friend from Able Company's machine gun platoon.
PFC Paul Balthusis, Baranoski, and Billy Boules.
Enjoying a little R&R in Hawaii.
Heading Home
Francis Baranoski's Scrapbook
