Photo from the WWII Memorial Registry
Born: February 25, 1923
Died: February 14, 2006
Campaigns Served: Iwo Jima (wounded twice)
Highest Rank Attained: Second Lieutenant
Decorations: Purple Heart with Gold Star
Nicholas Barbarotto was a student at the University of San Francisco when the Second World War broke out. He enrolled in the Navy's V-12 program in July, 1943, and was assigned to the University of the Pacific at Stockton for his coursework. After completing boot camp at Parris Island, Barbarotto was sent to Officer Candidate School at Quantico, Virginia, where he graduated as a second lieutenant in September, 1944.
Lieutenant Barbarotto arrived at Camp Maui in November, 1944, and became a platoon leader in Baker Company, 24th Marines. He landed on Iwo Jima, where he was twice wounded in March, 1945.
Barbarotto was granted a thirty-day leave to recuperate in the United States. While there, he married his hometown sweetheart, Tamara Rusanoff. She had followed her fiance into the Marines; Corporal Rusanoff served at Marine Headquarters in Washington, DC.
In November, 1945, Barbarotto was placed on inactive status with the Marine Corps Reserve. He graduated from the University of San Francisco with a degree in law; after being admitted to the California State Bar in 1949, he opened a private law firm.
Barbarotto was recalled to duty during the Korean War. He attended Naval Justice School and held the dual post of assistant legal officer and trial and defense counsel of courts-martial at Camp Pendleton. He was honorably discharged as a captain in 1952.
Nicholas Barbarotto continued practicing law into the 1990s. He and Tamara raised a family of three; they resided in San Francisco.
Barbarotto died in 2006. He is buried in Olivet Memorial Park, Colma, CA.