February 8, 1923 (Brooklyn, NY) – May 21, 1945; 22 years old
Unmarried
Last local address: 12 Reynolds Street, Norwalk
Enlisted on January 4, 1944
Service number: 907199
Unit: 6th Marine Division, 4th Marines, Company C
Born to Pasquale (1893-1974) and Marie E. Vicidomini Zeoli (1896-1956). One brother, Alfred J. (1918-2006). One sister, Marguerite Zeoli Gajdosik (1921-2020).
Awarded the Purple Heart Medal
Died during Operation Iceberg on Okinawa, Japan May 21, 1945.
From The Norwalk Hour March 8, 1945
In a recent letter to his parents, Private Lawrence R. Zeoli, USMC, son of Mr. and Mrs. P. Zeoli of 68 Spring Hill Avenue, describes his meeting with another Norwalk Marine, PFC Fernando Beauchene of 48 Flax Hill Road. On duty with the Sixth Marine Division in the Pacific, Private Zeoli states that he and Beauchene met on an island “somewhere” and had a good time talking about things back home. Private Zeoli who enlisted in January 1944, and has been overseas for three months, states that he has met several other Norwalk boys. Before entering the service, Private Zeoli was employed at the General Aircraft Equipment Company. (Webmaster Note: Fernando Beauchene survived the war and died in 1987 in Darien, CT)
From The Norwalk Hour June 6, 1945
Private Lawrence R. Zeoli, son of Mr. and Mrs. Pasquale L. Zeoli of 68 Spring Hill Avenue, was killed in action at Okinawa on or about May 21 according to an official notice received by his parents. Private Zeoli enlisted in the Marine Corps in January 1944 and had been overseas for about five months. Before going into the service, he was with the General Aircraft Company. Besides his parents, Private Zeoli is survived by a sister, Marguerite, and by a brother, Staff Sergeant Alfred Zeoli, who returned in January 1944, after having been missing in the European theater of war for several months after a memorial mass was held for him following his listing as “officially dead.”
Private Zeoli is buried in the National Memorial Cemetery of The Pacific, 2177 Puowaina Drive, Honolulu, Hawaii; Section O, Site 62. Photo from findagrave.com.
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