James Marinelli was born on May 19th, 1921. His parents were Joseph and Flavia. His mother, Flavia (the sister of Tony Duca, another one of our heroes), immigrated from Italy with her parents. Joseph was a superintendent at Downingtown Manufacturing Company. They lived at 328 Green St. in Downingtown. James was the oldest brother of three children; Mary Jane, and Dominic, who also is one of our heroes.

James attended Downingtown High School, which was then located on Manor Ave (Rt. 322) across from where St. Joseph’s Church is today. He worked at Downingtown Manufacturing Company. He was a member of the Alert and Minquas Fire Companies, St. Anthony’s Lodge and St. Joseph’s Church. James was known as a pleasant, quiet and reserved. James loved baseball and bowling, as was an avid hunter.

Jimmy with cousin, Joey and family dog.

James left high school to enlist into the Army on November 16th, 1942.

 He received basic training at Camp Shelby, Mississippi, and advanced desert training in California.

He then was sent overseas where he served in the 337^th Infantry Regiment of the 85^th Custer Division, of the Fifth Army in Northern Italy.

James unceasingly worked for two days supplying his platoon with ammunition using a jeep and running from foxhole to foxhole, transporting wounded on his return trips.

On October 8th, 1944, he was in an army ambulance transporting wounded from the front lines, including his friend Mickey. The ambulance hit a bump, the door flew open, and Mickey’s stretcher slid out of the moving vehicle. Just then the ambulance hit a buried mine and was destroyed as Mickey was yelling for them to stop. Corporal James Marinelli was killed.

A neighbor Dominic Castaldi, remembers the Marinelli hunting dogs eerily howled all night, almost as if they knew James was killed.

James was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star with Oak Leaf Clusters as well as the Purple Heart for his heroic service.

Jimmy (back row, third from left) and fellow soldiers in Italy.

Solemn Memorial Requiem Mass was held on October 30th at St Joseph’s Church. A double funeral and burial with full military honors occurred on Saturday March 26^th 1949 widely attended by the community

Downingtown is developing a community park on Lincoln Ave, near the Marinelli’s homestead. The Park will be named to honor the Marinelli brothers who gave their lives in service to their country.

UPDATE:

Marinelli Park was dedicated on November 13, 2004. 
Click HERE for more information.