Anthony T. DeMuro papers

Collection — Container: Single Folder Collections - 2019 box, Folder: 19.0016 - Folder 1

Identifier: 19.0016

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

These papers relate to Private First Class Anthony T. Demuro who served with Lima Company, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division in the Pacific Theater during World War II. Demuro participated in the Battle of Okinawa. The papers include letters and photographs. This collection includes 60 letters written by Anthony T. DeMuro to family in Chicago, IL. Also included is a photograph copy of the Japanese soldier captured by DeMuro on Okinawa, 1945 Christmas Card sent from DeMuro to his mother, copies of three photographs of DeMuro in China, January 28, 1944 Notice of Classification card, photocopy of a poem written by Marine comrade John J. McNamara annotated by DeMuro, and a recently taken civilian photograph of DeMuro. DeMuro's photocopied military personnel file is also included, as well as miscellaneous photographs were taken on Pavuvu, Okinawa, and China.

Dates

1944-1946
Other: Date accessioned

Creator

DeMuro (Anthony T.), 1922-2015 (Author, Person)

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open to all researchers.

Conditions Governing Use

All requests for permission to quote, publish, broadcast or otherwise reproduce from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Associate Dean for Special Collections & Archives. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the Florida State University Libraries as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the researcher.

Biographical / Historical

Anthony T. Demuro was born on April 6, 1922 in Chicago, IL and raised in Oak Park, IL. He was one of four brothers, three of whom served during World War II, and the fourth during the Korean War. In April 1944, DeMuro began training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego, CA. After intitial training, he received further training at Camp Pendelton, Oceanside, CA. DeMuro was assigned as a Machine Gunner to Lima Company, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division. He subsequently participated with the Division during the Okinawa Campaign in April-June 1945 and occupation duty in China in October 1945. After the war, DeMuro married Angela D. Genovese (Demuro). He passed away on January 21, 2015 and is burried in Queen of Heaven Catholic Cemetery, Hillside, IL.

In his letters DeMuro discusses the weather at various locations, opinions of food, and native peoples. He also discusses having frequently prayed during the Okinawa Campaign. In a July 4th letter written from Okinawa, he discusses capturing a Japanese soldier and removing two photographs, one of which is included in this collection. Once censorship is lifted, DeMuro announces the fact in letters to family dated September 7th and 10th. In the September 7th letter, he describes in detail capturing the Japanese soldier and includes the photograph removed from the soldier. In these two letters he provides details of actions on Okinawa. During occupation duty, he is assigned to Peiping (Beijing), China as Military Police and describes the poverty of local population. Additionally, in several letters DeMuro discusses concern of Communist attacks and the need for utilizing former Japanese soldiers for guard duties. In letters dated September 7th and 23rd, DeMuro criticized the 27th Infantry Division's lack of ability to gain territory during the Battle of Okinawa, and how the 1st Marine Division was required to relieve the 27th Division on the front lines.