Born: August 21, 1921
Died: July 4, 2002
Campaigns Served: Namur, Saipan (wounded), Iwo Jima
Highest Rank Attained: Corporal
Decorations: Purple Heart
With Dog Company:
Dominick Piccolomini served as a heavy machine gunner with Dog Company, 24th Marines. He fought on Namur with that company and was transferred to Able after the regiment was reorganized.
With Able Company:
PFC Piccolomini joined the machine gun platoon of Able Company. He was known for his sense of humor; George Smith recalled Piccolomini performing in a skit as dictator Benito Mussolini. "He had the speech patterns and the movements all down," said Smith, who was soon "rolling on the ground" with the rest of the platoon, convulsing with laughter.
In combat, Piccolomini fought as one of the gunners in Corporal Anthony Pramberger's team. On the night of June 16, 1944, as their team took up a nighttime defensive position on Saipan, the Japanese hit the gunners hard. The entire squad was wiped out; Piccolomini was painfully wounded and evacuated to the Aiea Heights Naval hospital to recover.
Piccolomini was promoted to corporal after returning to Able Company in the fall of 1944; he served as the ammunition NCO for the machine gun platoon during the battle of Iwo Jima.
Dominick Piccolomini after the battle for Iwo Jima.
Corporal Piccolomini ended the war with Able Company. He died in Brooklyn in 2002.