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World War II Photos:
Daniel J. Girdano

Daniel John Girdano joined A/1/24 in the fall of 1944. He fought as a machine gunner on Iwo Jima, where he was wounded three times; his refusal to leave the line for medical treatment would later cost him a well-deserved Purple Heart.

Dan’s pictures show members of Company A in the spring and summer of 1945, as they recovered from Iwo and prepared for the invasion of Japan. He also served with the 6th Service Depot in Hawaii for a few months after the war ended.

All images on this page are courtesy of Mr. Girdano’s daughter, Danielle.

  • Served With: Able Company (Machine Gunner), 6th Service Depot
  • Collection Timeline: February 1945 – January 1946
  • Locations: Iwo Jima, Camp Maui, Hawaiian Islands
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March 1945
Company A
Survivors of Iwo Jima

Camp Maui

Above: Walter "Butch" Campbell, "GI," and Austin "Pop" Johnson in company street, Camp Maui.

These photographs depict various members of Company A at Camp Maui, before and after the battle of Iwo Jima. Most of the Marines pictured were members of the machine gun platoon, but not all names are known. Please contact us if you recognize any of these men.

Corporal Glenn "GI" Doster, Walter "Butch" Campbell, and Austin "Pop" Campbell with their M1917 Browning machine gun, prior to Iwo Jima.
Johnson, "GI" Doster, and Thomas C. Jones.
PFC Thomas Clifford Jones, machine gunner, outside a squad tent.
Jones survived Iwo Jima unwounded, as was eventually discharged as a corporal.
Walter "Butch" Campbell of Shamokin, PA, sits with his canteen cup. "Pop" Johnson is behind and to the left.
Unknown Marine with his pipe outside a tent named "Sleeping Inn."
Unknown Marine poses with Japanese battle trophies at Camp Maui.
Unknown Marine outside a tent named "Sleeping Inn."
Unknown Marine poses with Japanese battle trophies at Camp Maui.
Unknown Marine taking a smoke break, Camp Maui.
Austin "Pop" Johnson with a Japanese sword, probably an Iwo Jima memento.
Unknown Marine strolls down the company street.
Buddies "GI" and "Butch" Campbell out looking for trouble.
As one Marine winds up to smack Daniel Girdano’s keister, "Pop" Johnston stands ready with a pistol in case Danny tries to get away.
Edward DuBeck (center) and Jim "Shuffler" Pritchett (right) at Camp Maui. Marine on left is unknown.
Tom Jones, "Pop" Johnson, and Dan Girdano (squatting).
Private Francis Baranoski and Corporal Dominic Piccolomini getting ready for a parade, 1945.
Below: Machine gunners at Camp Maui, 1944-1945.
Back Row: Daniel Girdano, [unknown], Weston A. Burns, [unknown], [unknown], George H. Calcutt, Glenn E. Doster

Front Row: [unknown], Zollie P. Denton, Jr., Roy L. Othon, [unknown]
Back Row: [unknown], Zollie P. Denton, Jr., [unknown], [unknown], Daniel Girdano

Front Row: [unknown], George H. Calcutt, Glen E. Doster
Back Row: Robert Hurdle, Jr., [unknown], Edward E. Greayer, [unknown], [unknown], Zollie P. Denton, Jr.

Front Row: [unknown], George H. Calcutt, Glen E. Doster, [unknown],
Back Row: Ralph L. Hatley, Zollie P. Denton, Jr., [unknown], [unknown], Peter J. Cabrelli, [unknown], John McCarthy

Front Row: John H. Hazelgreen
Back Row: [unknown], Joseph M. Peterpaul, Zollie P Denton, Jr., John McCarthy, [unknown], [unknown],

Front Row: Robert Hurdle, Jr., Aloysius T. Callahan, Glen E. Doster, Peter J. Cabrelli

Souvenirs of Hawaii

Above: Danny Girdano (right) poses with an unknown buddy at a souvenir photo booth.
PFC Daniel Girdano, 1945.
Dan Girdano and Thomas Johnson with a novelty prop.
Peter Gabrelli and Danny Girdano clowning for the camera, 1945.
Girdano (left) with an unknown buddy.
Girdano, Aloysius T. Callahan, and an unknown buddy.
The same unknown Marine, displaying his Fourth Marine Division shoulder patch.
Girdano, two unidentified Marines, and Robert Langer. "Lank" Langer was killed in action at Iwo Jima.
Girdano (left) with an unknown buddy.
Girdano (right) with an unknown buddy.
Austin "Pop" Johnson, center, with two unidentified buddies.
Marines in Hawaii, names unknown.
Marines in Hawaii, names unknown. Girdano is at lower right.
Girdano (center) with two unidentified buddies.
Marines in Hawaii, names unknown. Girdano is at back right.
Marines and a sailor in Hawaii, names unknown.
A group of 24th Marines – buddies from home and from fighting in the Pacific – share a laugh for the camera in 1945.

The 6th Service Depot, 1945 – 1946

On 10 October 1945, PFC Daniel Girdano transferred to Service Command, Fleet Marine Force Pacific, for duty with the 6th Service Depot. He appears on the rolls of the Transport Company through January 1946, at which time he was sent back to the United States to prepare for his discharge.

These photos depict life in Hawaii immediately after the end of the war, including a road trip and a beach barbecue. While a number of First Battalion men served with the Transport Company, most of the individuals in these photographs are unknown.

A Marine on liberty waits by a bus stop.
Rest break at the Kuliouou Service Station outside of Honolulu.
Judging by this Marine's facial expression, this road trip may not be going as planned.
Hawaiian scenery.
Hawaiian scenery.
A platoon from the Transport Company gathers for a cookout. Note canine mascot with a white hat in the front row. Girdano may be the jaunty Marine in the trailer door.
Scenes at the platoon picnic.
Steak and fried potatoes on the grill.
The platoon commander (a lieutenant, at right) with three Transport Company Marines.
The lieutenant enjoys a beer. Note his Fleet Marine Force Supply shoulder patch.
After a drink and a steak dinner, the formalities of rank disappeared. The lieutenant is "crapped out" on the deck with the rest of the boys.
A Transport Company man sporting swallow tattoos on his chest.
A beer and a sandwich makes for a happy Marine.
Transport Company personnel relaxing.
Transport Company personnel relaxing.
Transport Company personnel on the beach. Girdano is second from left.
A Warrant Officer – possibly David Baughman or Henry Shipley – determined not to get his khakis all sandy.
Transport Company personnel take a dip in the ocean.

Help Identify These Marines!

Do you recognize any of the unidentified Marines in this gallery?
Let us know so we can put a name to a face!

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