Project 888
Name: Anthony Gene DANIELLO
Rank / Rating: S1-Seaman First ClassService #: 225 51 09 DOB: 1926 From: Wilmington, DE Parents: Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Daniello Went Aboard: Apr 27, 1944 Age When Ship Went Down: 19 Spouse: Children: Grandchildren: Bio Submitted By: Carl Fahnestock (Admin) |
 DANIELLO, Anthony G |
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Anthony was the son of Antonio/Anthony and Cocetta LaPenta Daniello. His father was born in Italy and immigrated to the US in 1907. His mother was born in PA and in some records her name is spelled Congette and Concettina.
The 1940 census shows A. Eugene, 14 yo, born PA, and he had completed 3 years of high school. Also in the home was his sister Elizabeth age 20, and two brothers, Donald age 7, and Jay age 4.
He attended Pierre S. DuPont High School and was subsequently employed by the Bond Manufacturing Company. He was well known as a caddy at the Wilmington, Delaware Country Club.
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| Anthony enlisted in the permanent US Navy on Sept 9, 1943, NY, NY. He was only 17 years old and required the consent of his parents. He arrived for basic training at Great Lakes, IL on Sept 11, 1943 as a AS (Apprentice Seaman). His training was interrupted when he was admitted to the Naval Hospital in Great Lakes on Nov 18th where he remained for eight days. The cause is unknown. Upon completion of basic training, he was advanced to S2c (Seaman Second class). But, his training was not over. The Navy saw potential in their young trainee. He was received Dec 16, 1943 at Naval Training School, (Signal and Diesel) at the University of Illinois in Urbana, IL. The university was one of many that offered their classrooms for the training of service men and women. When he completed training on April 10, 1944, he was advanced to S1c (SM) (Seaman First Class, Signalman). Anthony was transferred from the university on April 12th to the Receiving Station at Shoemaker, CA, where he arrived on April 21, 1944. He would travel to San Francisco where one week later, April 27th, he was received aboard USS Indianapolis CA-35. He would have little time to adjust to life on board before the ship left port three days later for Pearl Harbor. With his training as a Signalman, Anthony would "strike" to be advanced from S1c to Signalman 3/c (Third Class) while on board Indy. Striking was the Navy's term for "on the job training" that included shore and/or on-board training, testing and a specific number of months in service before advancement to a higher rate/rating. After Training off Pearl Harbor, Indy returned to the battle action. Anthony would not return to the US until Oct 19, 1944 when Indy returned to Mare Island, CA for overhaul. He would be in port for Christmas and New Year's celebrations. During these three months, he most likely was granted furlough. Jan 3, 1945 came too quickly for the Indy crew. She departed Mare Island that day for Pearl Harbor and forward to the Western Carolines. Feb and March would be filled with battle action and support of her task force and group. Anthony arrived with his ship on Feb 1, 1945 at Ulithi Atoll, two weeks before she made her first attack on Tokyo on Feb 15th. Throughout the action, Indianapolis played her vital role of support ship. She sailed on to Iwo Jima where action began on the 19th. On that day several Japanese planes attacked the Task Group. Indy was credited with one kill. Anthony watched as the 5" gun blew off the tail section and the plane tumbled into the sea. The ship assisted with another kill, although others ships were firing, so credit was not given for a kill. At Iwo Jima, Indy did her share of the bombardment of the island where Japanese soldiers hid in and attacked US forces from subterranean tunnels. She moved back to Tokyo to Honshu and Nansei Shoto for more bombardment of the islands and remained until the operation ended on Mar 1st. The pre-invasion bombardment of Okinawa began Mar 24th and for 7 days Indianapolis either supported operations or bombarded beach defenses. Enemy aircraft filled the sky attacking the ships. Anthony was called to General Quarters several times each day as planes circled the ship and attacked ships nearby. Indy shot down two of the planes and assisted in splashing two others. This was a day that Anthony would never forget. But, the action was not over. On 31 March, the day before the scheduled invasion, the ship was hit by a Japanese kamikaze plane. Nine men were killed and 20 injured. There is no record that Anthony was injured. Indy limped back to Mare Island, CA, for repairs and refitting, where she would remain for two-and-a-half months. In May, Anthony was granted leave and he returned home to visit his parents. Indy received an unexpected order that she was to depart for a top-secret delivery to the island of Tinian in the Northern Mariana Islands. No one on board knew the contents of their cargo when they departed on July 16, 1945. After the delivery, Indianapolis departed Tinian and after a short stop at Apra Habor, Guam, she sailed for Leyte, her final destination. Half-way there, on July 30, 1945, Indy was struck by two torpedoes from Japanese submarine I-58 and sank in 12 minutes. Whether Anthony made it off the ship and into the water is not known. Anthony saw action in the Marianas, at Palau Islands in the Western Carolines, Ryakyu Islands at Nansei Shoto and Honshu, and at Iwo Jima and Okinawa. He was awarded the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Ribbon with five bronze stars for the battle stars awarded to Indianapolis during his time on board. He was awarded the Purple Heart, posthumously. His name is inscribed on the Tablets of the Missing in the Manila American Cemetery, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig, Philippines. Anthony, you are not forgotten. Note: A Wilmington, DE newspaper reported that Anthony served on board a merchant ship and was decorated with the European Theater Ribbon with one bronze star. However, this researcher found no evidence that Anthony served on any ship other than Indianapolis. | |
1940 US Census, DE, New Castle, Wilmington; HH #2217 citing family of Antonio and Congette Daniello The Morning News, (Wilmington, DE), Wed, Sept 13, 1961; citing obituary of Antonio Daniello, 72 yo. State of Delaware, New Castle, Land Records, Record of Deeds. Indenture, 1924, noting Anthony and Concettina Daniello; Deed recorded Record C, Vol. 32, p. 533. State of Delaware, Bureau of Vital Statistic, Marriage Certificate, Reg # D4387; p. 398; citing marriage of Anthony's sister, Elizabeth Dorothy Daniello and names the parents. Navy Department, Casualty Section, Office of Public Information (1946): Combat Connected Naval Casualties, WWII, by States; Vol. AL-MO; DE, p. 1; citing Anthony Gene Daniello USN WWII Muster Rolls, 1938-1949; Ancestry database USN Ships, Stations and Other Naval Activities, 1939-1949; Ancestry database
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