Dominic Marinelli was born on March 10th, 1923. 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. The family lived in Downingtown. Dominic was the youngest brother of three children. His brother James, is also a Hero.

Dominic attended Downingtown High School. 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. Dominic was known to be pleasant and fun loving, but also feisty. Dominic would have graduated in 1943 but he left school his junior year to defend his country.

Dominic and his friend, Matt Menna, traveled to Philadelphia to enlist in the Marine Corps in September. He was called to service on December 28th, 1943. Both received basic training at Parris Island South Carolina. Dominic was then sent to Quantico Virginia for infantry training. After completion, he was stationed at Norfolk until he was shipped overseas.