Rocco Morelli

Private First Class, U.S. Army
Serial: 32366392

Entered the Service from: New Jersey
Died: February 28, 1943
Buried at: Calvary Cemetery
Route 70 West
Pennsauken, New Jersey

Private First Class Rocco Morelli was born in Camden, New Jersey in 1923 to Anthony and Fannie Morelli. The Morellis had lived in January of 1920 at 927 South 3rd Street in Camden, where Anthony worked at the RCA-Victor plant. Oldest son Carlo was born shortly after the census was taken in 1920, and Rocco came along shortly thereafter, to be followed by a daughter Frances, and another son, Thomas. By 1930 the family had moved to 532 Woodland Avenue, near the New York Shipbuilding Company shipyard, where Anthony Morelli was then working as a huckster. The family later moved again to 323 Walnut Street in Camden, where they lived in 1943. Rocco Morelli had finished high school and worked as a truck driver before being drafted.

Rocco Morelli was drafted into the Army from Camden, New Jersey on October 12, 1942. He died at Camp Bowie, Texas at the age of 20, on February 28, 1943. Rocco Morelli was survived by his parents, his sister Frances, and his brothers Carlo, Thomas, and Anthony. A Mass was said for him on March 3, 1943 at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church on South 5th Street in Camden, and he was buried at Calvary Cemetery in Pennsauken, New Jersey. His death was reported in the March 2, 1943 edition of the Camden Courier-Post.

Rocco Morelli rests next to his parents, sister Frances, brother Carlo, and another brother, William, born after his death.