Chester Smurlo

Rank: Private First Class, U.S. Marine Corps

Serial: 803576

Unit: 2nd Marine Division

Entered service from: New Jersey

Died: June 17, 1944, Saipan

Memorial: American Memorial Park, Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands

Awards: Purple Heart, Paramarine Wings

Private First Class Chester Smurlo was born in Nanticoke, PA on February 8, 1923. He attended grammar school in Nanticoke and graduated from Nanticoke High School. Shortly thereafter his family moved to Camden and took residence at 1542 Louis Street, in the mostly Polish-American neighborhood anchored by St. Joseph Catholic Church at 10th and Liberty Streets. He attended Camden High School, where he played on the school football team.

Chester Smurlo was called to his country’s service in February of 1943. With the Marine Corps, he trained at Camp Pendleton at San Diego, CA, where he was promoted to Private First Class in June of 1943. He was subsequently sent to Oahu in Hawaii. He participated in the battles of Tarawa and Saipan, where he was killed fighting the Japanese on June 17, 1944.

Chester Smurlo was survived by his father, his mother Stella, and three brothers, Edward, Frank, and Raymond. His funeral was held at St. Joseph’s Church at 10th and Mechanic Streets in Camden, NJ on June 19, 1948.

He served with the 2nd Marine Division (Raiders) in the 2nd landing wave at Tarawa and the 1st landing wave at Saipan.