WWII Photos:
Domenick Tutalo

Private Domenick “Tut” Tutalo volunteered to carry a flamethrower – one of the toughest jobs in the Marine Corps – in one of history’s toughest battles. On his very first day of combat, he saw his squad nearly wiped out and escaped by the skin of his teeth.

Tutalo spent much of his life blocking out the horrors he witnessed on Iwo Jima. His photographs depict the more pleasant side of service: relaxing in camp and going on liberty with buddies.

All photographs courtesy Dom Tutalo.

I was a Selective Service volunteer and I requested the Marines. A bunch of my family was in the Marines. That's what made me actually join.
When I first got out of boot camp, they put me in the Philadelphia Navy Yard. I didn't want to stay there because everyone was going into combat. I wanted to get into the battle, too. Crazy at the time.

Dom Tutalo, in "By Dammit We're Marines" by Gail Chatfield

Dom Tutalo (right) with two boot camp buddies.

Recruits at Parris Island, possibly at the rifle range.

The recruits appear to be holding disassembled M1 rifles.

A tired Private Tutalo after finishing boot camp.

Dom (lower right) with buddies from the 49th Replacement Battalion. The have likely just arrived in Hawaii. Woodlard, Tremblay, Turek, Tutalo, and Toskin.

Dom and Albert Tremblay, 1944.

While overseas, Dom had a knack for running into buddies from back home in New Jersey, like this tall fellow (name unknown)....

..and this one, who ran the generators at Camp Maui.

Camp Maui: Assault & Demolitions Platoon

I couldn't tell you why I chose to become a demolitions man and flamethrower. The training was very rough. I guess the equipment weighed 70 pounds. I weighed 126, but in those days I was a lot stronger. I was 19 then. At the time, it wasn't that heavy.

You're carrying a tank of napalm, but you don't think it's dangerous. Your mind doesn't think about that.

Dom Tutalo, in "By Dammit We're Marines" by Gail Chatfield