Frank P. Dornetto - Watertender 1st Class
United States Navy (1942/1945)
Frank P. Dornetto
- 1945
Frank Paul Dornetto was born
on February 28, 1921, the third son of Theresa and Dominico Dornetto.
The Dornetto family, including brothers Joe, Louie, William, and
sisters Sarah and Elvera, lived on Webster Avenue in Pittsburgh's
Hill District. Frank attended Franklin High School for two years,
then quit school to work at his father's gas station and parking
lot. In 1940, the Dornetto's purchased a new home on Jacob Street
in Brookline.
On September 20, 1942, Frank
enlisted in the United States Navy. His brothers also served in the
armed forces. Older brother Joe entered the Army Tank Corps, and younger
brothers Louie and William entering the Army Air Corps and Army
Infantry, respectively.
Seaman Frank Dornetto completed
his naval training at Great Lakes Naval Station on February 22, 1943,
earning the title Petty Officer. Soon afterwards he was rated as a
Watertender. On a steam-powered ship, the Watertender is a crewman
who is responsible for tending to the fires and boilers in the engine
room.
The ship Frank was assigned
to was the USS Indianapolis (CA-35), part of the United States
Pacific Fleet. With most of the U.S. battleships damaged at Pearl Harbor,
the burden of carrying the war to the enemy fell to the heavy cruisers.
The USS Indianapolis had already seen significant action in the South
Pacific, and was tendered at the Mare Island Ship Yard, near San
Francisco, California, for a refit and overhaul.
In November 1943, the USS
Indianapolis became the flagship of Vice Admiral Raymond Spruance's
5th Fleet. From November 1943 through January 1945, the Indianapolis
and the 5th Fleet engaged in several major campaigns, including the
Battle of Tarawa, the Battle of Makin, the Battle of Kwajalein, the
assault on the Western Carolinas, the assault on the Mariana Islands,
the Battle of Saipan, the Battle of the Philippine Sea, the Battle of
Tinian and the Battle of Peleliu. In September 1944 the ship conducted
operations against the Admiralty Islands, then returned to Mare
Island for overhaul.
Crew members aboard the USS
Indianapolis.
Dornetto, promoted to
Watertender 1st Class on March 12, 1944, was granted leave while
the Indianapolis was docked at Mare Island. He returned home for
a welcome visit with family and friends. After overhaul, the
Indianapolis and WT1C Dornetto returned to the Pacific Theatre, in
February 1945, as part of Vice Admiral Marc Mitscher's fast carrier
task force. The ship conducted operations against the Japanese "Home
Islands," including action at the Battle of Iwo Jima and the Battle of
Okinawa.
On March 31, 1945, the USS
Indianapolis suffered serious damage as a result of a direct bomb
hit by a Japanese warplane and returned to Mare Island for repair.
Frank was granted leave and again returned home for another visit
with his family.
When it was time to return
to California, Frank's sister Elvera recalls that for the first time,
he felt insecurities about returning to duty. A premonition of
impending disaster gnawed at him. Putting his feelings aside, the
now decorated veteran returned to his ship for another foray into
the War in the Pacific.
The Heavy Cruiser USS
Indianapolis (CA-35) on July 10, 1945.
In July 1945, the USS Indianapolis
received top secret orders to proceed to Tinian Island, carrying parts,
and the enriched uranium, for the atomic bomb Little Boy, which would later be dropped on Hiroshima.
The Indianapolis departed San Francisco on July 16 and three days later
arrived at Pearl Harbor. The ship then raced on unaccompanied, reaching
Tinian Island in record time on July 26. After delivering it's nuclear
cargo, the Indianapolis sailed for Guam.
After a short stay, the ship sailed
toward Leyte in the Philippines. At 00:14 on July 30, the USS Indianapolis
was struck by two torpedoes on her starboard bow, launched from
the Japanese submarine I-58. The explosions caused massive damage. The
crippled ship took on a heavy list, and twelve minutes later rolled
completely over.
Within minutes the USS Indianapolis
plunged into the depths, 450 miles from Leyte, taking approximately 300 of
her 1096 member crew down with her, including Watertender 1st Class Frank
Paul Dornetto.
The survivors of the sinking suffered
a fate that has gone down as one of the saddest stories in the history of
the United States Navy. Due to the top secret nature of the mission, and the
accompanying radio silence, these survivors were stranded for three and a
half days in the water. Search efforts were delayed, and once located, only
321 crewmen were rescued. Nearly five hundred sailors died of drowning,
exposure to the elements and shark attacks.
The Pittsburgh Press listed Frank
Dornetto, age 23, as Missing in Action on September 11, and his status was
changed to Killed in Action on October 5. A memorial mass was celebrated at
St. Peter's Church on Friday two weeks later.
Watertender 1st Class Frank Paul
Dornetto of Brookline is memorialized on the Tablets of the Missing at
the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial, located in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City,
Metro Manila. Two other fallen Brookliners lost at sea, Clarence R. Copeland and John P. Reitmeyer, are also listed on the Tablets of the Missing in
Manila.
The USS Indianapolis (CA-35) was one
of the most highly decorated warships in the United States Pacific Fleet,
earning a total of ten Battle Stars. The USS Indianapolis National Memorial
was dedicated on August 2, 1995. It is located on the Canal Walk in
Indianapolis, Indiana. An image of the Heavy Cruiser is etched in limestone
and granite. Crewmembers names are listed on the monument, with special
notations for those who lost their lives.
Pictured below is the American flag that
was presented to Frank Dornetto's parents by Navy representatives after a
memorial service at St. Peters Catholic Church shortly after the end of
World War II. The wood frame, containing Frank's war medals and service
caps, was crafted by Mr. Michael Esposito. It currently hangs in the home
of Frank's sister, Elvera Esposito, on Pioneer Avenue in
Brookline.
* Thanks to Mrs. Elvera
Esposito, younger sister of Frank Dornetto, for contributing this
information. *
Written by Clint Burton - May 18, 2012
The Brookline
War Memorial
Listed below are
many of the sons of Brookline who gave their
lives to preserve freedom and contain aggression during
World War I, World War II, Korea and Vietnam.
“It is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died.
Rather, we should thank God that such men lived.”
General George S. Patton
World War I
(1917-1919)
The World War I Memorial -
Washington D.C.
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World War II
(1941-1945)
Alm, William H.
Pioneer Avenue
Army
Details |
Arensberg, Roy T.
Fernhill Avenue
Army
Details |
Bracey, Bruce H.
Plainview Avenue
Army
Details |
Brickley, Edward G.
Woodward Avenue
Army
Details |
Capogreca, James J.
Merrick Avenue
Navy
Details |
Copeland, Clarence R.
Creedmoor Avenue
Navy
Details |
Cullison, Thomas J.
Birtley Avenue
Army
Details |
Dempsey, Howard F.
Berkshire Avenue
Army
Details |
Dempsey, Walter F.
Milan Avenue
Navy
Details |
Diegelman, Edward R. Jr
Norwich Avenue
Army
Details |
Dornetto, Frank P.
Jacob Street
Navy
Details |
Doyle, John F Jr.
Eben Street
Navy
Details |
Fagan, Gerald B.
Woodbourne Avenue
Army
Details |
Falk, Harold E.
Pioneer Avenue
Army
Details |
Fehring, Robert M.
Fernhill Avenue
Army
Details |
Gmuca, Joseph J.
Brookline Boulevard
Army
Details |
Heil, Robert F.
Bayridge Avenue
Army
Details |
Hynes, Richard E.
Waddington Avenue
Army
Details |
Kestler, Paul C.
Creedmoor Avenue
Navy
Details |
Ketters, Robert C.
Berkshire Avenue
Army
Details |
Mahoney, Michael J.
Oakridge Street
Army
Details |
Majestic, Arthur B.
Starkamp Avenue
Army
Details |
Mayberry, Alexander G.
Breining Street
Army
Details |
Mazza, John
Alwyn Street
Army
Details |
McCann, Robert F.
Edgebrook Avenue
Navy
Details |
McFarland, Hugh R.
McNeilly Road
Army
Details |
Meisner, Walter F.
Berwin Avenue
Merchant Marine
Details |
Miller, William J.
Norwich Avenue
Army
Details |
Napier, Edward J.
Brookline Boulevard
Army
Details |
Nicholson, John D.
Woodbourne Avenue
Army
Details |
O'Day, John R.
Creedmoor Avenue
Navy
Details |
Orient, Andrew D.
Fordham Avenue
Army
Details |
Pisiecki, Raymond A.
Wolford Avenue
Army
Details |
Reeves, Alfred M.
Brookline Boulevard
Army
Details |
Reitmeyer, John P.
Bellaire Avenue
Navy
Details |
Rhing, Vern M.
Norwich Avenue
Army
Details |
Ruane, Roy J.
Berkshire Avenue
USMC
Details |
Shannon, Harry C.
Midland Street
Army
Details |
Shannon, Jack E.
Midland Street
USMC
Details |
Simpson, James D.
Woodbourne Avenue
Army
Details |
Spack, Harry
Linial Avenue
Army
Details |
Tobin, Paul M.
Woodbourne Avenue
Army
Details |
Vierling, Howard F.
Fordham Avenue
Army
Details |
Wagner, Ralph G.
Shawhan Avenue
Army
Details |
Wentz, Walter L. Jr
Woodbourne Avenue
Army
Details |
Zeiler, Harold V.
West Liberty Avenue
Army
Details |
The World War II Memorial -
Washington D.C.
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Korean War
(1950-1953)
Korean War Memorial -
Washington D.C.
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Vietnam War
(1965-1973)
Vietnam War Memorial -
Washington D.C.
The Brookline
Monument - The Cannon
<Brookline
War Memorial> <> <Brookline
History> |