Camden, N.J. — 8th Ward WWII War Memorial
The 8th Ward WWII War Memorial, sponsored by American Legion Post 274, Camden, N.J.
Sponsored by American Legion Post 274, this monument is dedicated to the men and women of the 8th Ward who served their country faithfully in World War II. Situated on the grounds of American Legion Post 274 at Broadway & Jefferson Street in Camden, N.J., this monument is inscribed with the names of 24 men from what was then the 8th Ward of Camden, who gave their lives in the service of our nation during World War II. Also listed are the names of over 900 others who served during the war years.
Left: The 8th Ward WWII War Memorial. Right: Map of the 8th Ward. In the mid-20th century, Camden’s 8th Ward lay in the southernmost part of the city. Its borders, clockwise from the southernmost point, were the Delaware River north to a point opposite Ferry Avenue & Jackson Street; then along the “Line Ditch” to the southeast corner of Everett and Broadway; north along the east side of Broadway to Lansdowne Avenue, east to 8th Street, then south along the west side of 8th to Van Hook Street. From Van Hook Street, the border went to Mt. Ephraim Avenue, where it turned south till the city limits were reached. This region includes the neighborhoods historically known as Centerville, Fairview, and Yorkship Village, among others.
These Men Made the Supreme Sacrifice for God and Country
| Name | Rank | Branch | Unit | Born | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| John J. Bittman | PFC | Army | 1918 | 3/18/1945 | |
| Frank Ballerino | PVT | Army | 31st Signal Construction Bn | 1919 | 9/27/1943 |
| Theodore E. Bayruns | PVT | Army | 318th Infantry Regiment, 80th Infantry Division | 1922 | 9/23/1944 |
| Stanley J. Bezich | SGT | Army | Company I, 315th Infantry, 79th Infantry Division | 1922 | 11/27/1944 |
| George N. Binnix | PVT | Army | 320th Field Artillery Bn., 82nd Airborne Division | 1922 | 7/4/1944 |
| Michael Carr | TEC5 | Army | 31st Signal Construction Bn | 1915 | 9/27/1943 |
| Martin Di Carlantonio | PVT | Army | 30th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division | 1923 | 2/20/1944 |
| Anthony Ferri | PVT | Army | Company L, 338th Infantry Regiment, 85th Infantry Division | 5/12/1915 | 5/11/1944 |
| Alfred L. Kluczynski | S1C | Navy | 11/20/1925 | 10/21/1943 | |
| Albert Laurie (Albert Lawrie) | PFC | Army | Company B, 63rd Armored Infantry Battalion, 11th Armored Division | 1914 | 1/13/1945 |
| Walter Lehman | PFC | Army | 15th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division | 1907 | 3/4/1944 |
| Sebastian Mannello | PFC | Army | Cavalry | 2/15/1924 | 12/6/1944 |
| Charles Lesley Mills | CPL | Marines | 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division | 10/19/1920 | 6/19/1945 |
| Robert F. Miles | SSGT | Army | HQ Company, 2nd Battalion, 262nd Infantry Regiment, 66th Infantry Division | 1924 | 12/25/1944 |
| Domenic P. Montemurro | PVT | Army | Company K, 133rd Infantry Regiment, 34th Infantry Division | January 1917 | 9/13/1944 |
| Eugene J. Pearce | PFC | Army | Infantry | 2/25/1921 | 10/10/1944 |
| Stephen A. Pipito | PFC | Army | Headquarters Company, 8th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Division | 2/6/1918 | 7/9/1944 |
| John J. Pluskosky | AMM3C | Navy | USS Liscome Bay CVE-56 | 11/25/1944 | |
| John W. Rosevelt (John Roosevelt) | PVT | Army | 327th Engineer Combat Battalion, 102nd Infantry Division | 5/2/1913 | 1/22/1945 |
| John E. Shuler | SSGT | Army | 349th Infantry Regiment, 88th Infantry Division | 8/15/1912 | 5/14/1944 |
| Alfred C. Titus, Jr. | PVT | Army | Company E, 2nd Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Division | 1922 | 7/13/1944 |
| Peter J. Vollanovitch | PFC | Army | 165th Infantry Regiment, 27th Infantry Division | 9/19/1916 | 4/23/1945 |
| Michael Yachus (Michael Yatzus) | PVT | Army | 31st Signal Construction Bn | 1919 | 9/27/1943 |
| George H. Pruitt | TEC4 | Army | 43rd Signal Construction Bn | 1922 | 6/10/1945 |
| Also named on the memorial, but not as a casualty: | |||||
| Srecko F. Radich | PFC | Army | 175th Infantry Regiment, 29th Infantry Division | 1920 | 2/23/1945 |
HMTS Rohna
Three of the men listed on this memorial — Frank Ballerino, Michael Carr, and Michael Yachus (spelled Yatzus on the monument) — died together when the troop transport HMTS Rohna was struck by a German guided glider bomb and sank off the coast of North Africa. Camden natives Stephen V. Koscianski, Lewis Riondino, and Joseph H. Johnson also were lost that day, along with six other Camden County men: 19 year-old Harry V. Taylor Jr. of Haddonfield, William McKeon of Blackwood, Merl Reagle of Lindenwold, Carl Johanson and Joseph Kessler Jenkins of Pennsauken, and Elmer F. Day of Merchantville. In total, 1,015 men were lost, but the story was never told to the families or the general public for over 57 years due to wartime censorship.
The SS Leopoldville Disaster
On December 24, 1944 the SS Leopoldville, carrying over 2,000 American soldiers, was torpedoed off the coast of Normandy. 764 Americans lost their lives that night, including two from Camden, N.J.: PFC Edward E. Benson, and Staff Sergeant Robert F. Miles, who is memorialized on Camden’s 8th Ward War Memorial.
The SS Leopoldville — leopoldville.net
Beverly National Cemetery
| Name | Cemetery Plot |
|---|---|
| Sebastian Mannella | F 1578 |
| Eugene J. Pearce | F O 1580A |