John Andrew Timpanaro
PFC John A. “Tippy” Timpanaro served with King Company Company, Third Battalion, 25th Marines.
He was reported missing in action at Iwo Jima on 20 February 1945.
Branch
Marine Corps Reserve
Service Number 503666
Current Status
Remains Not Recovered
Pursuit Category
This case is under Active Pursuit by DPAA
Capsule History
Pre-War Life
Birth
June 20, 1924
in Ozone Park, NY
Parents
Alfio “Alfred” Timpanaro
Grace (Contuvallo) Timpanaro (d. 1940)
Education
Details unknown
Occupation & Employer
Details unknown
Service Life
Entered Service
December 9, 1942
at New York, NY
Home Of Record
8930 Desarc Road
Ozone Park, NY
Next Of Kin
Father, Mr. Alfred Timpanaro
Military Specialty
Rifleman
(MOS 745)
Individual Decorations
Purple Heart (Tinian)
– with Gold Star (Iwo Jima)
Loss And Burial
Circumstances Of Loss
From the moment they landed on Iwo’s Blue Beaches, BLT 3-25 was under intense, accurate, and murderous gunfire. By the end of the day, the outfit was so badly mauled that it was withdrawn to regimental reserve for a breather. King Company went into battle with seven officers and 220 enlisted men; on D+1, they could muster only two officers and 163 men. The rest had been killed or wounded; a handful were simply gone, with no eyewitnesses to give information.
PFC John A. Timpanaro, a veteran rifleman and Purple Heart recipient, was reported missing in action on 20 February 1945. No further details of his fate are currently known.
Burial Information or Disposition
None; identifiable remains not recovered.
Memorials
Next Of Kin Address
Address of father, Mr. Alfred Timpanaro
Location Of Loss
Timpanaro’s battalion was operating in the Blue Beach area of Iwo Jima.
