Brookline War Memorial
Frank P. Dornetto

Frank P. Dornetto - Watertender 1st Class
United States Navy (1942/1945)

Water Tender Frank P. Dornetto
Frank P. Dornetto - 1945

United States Navy (1775-present)

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.

Seaman Frank P. Dornetto

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.

USS Indianapolis (CA-35)
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.

USS Indianapolis (CA-35)
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.

Manila American Memorial and Cemetery

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.

USS Indianapolis Memorial

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.

USS Indianapolis Memorial

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

The Brookline Veteran's 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
 

United States Army (1775-present)  United States Army Air Services (1917-1947)  United States Navy (1775-present)  United States Marine Corps (1775-present)
United States Coast Guards (1790-present)  United States Air Force (1947-present)  United States Merchant Marine (1775-present)

World War I (1917-1919)

Percy Digby

Digby, David P.
Mayville Avenue
Army

Details

Raymond P. Cronin

Cronin, Raymond P.
Berkshire Avenue
USMC

Details

Charles Luppe

Luppe, Charles
Ferncliffe Avenue
Army

Details

WW1 Memorial - Washington D.C.
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


WW2 Memorial - Washington D.C.
The World War II Memorial - Washington D.C.

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Korean War (1950-1953)

Patrick Gallagher

Gallagher, Patrick J.
Bodkin Street
Army

Details

James Gormley

Gormley, James W.
Brookline Boulevard
Army

Details

Gerald Hilliard

Hilliard, Gerald G.
Edgebrook Avenue
Army

Details

James McKenna

McKenna, James E.
Bellaire Place
Army

Details

Korean War Memorial - Washington D.C.
Korean War Memorial - Washington D.C.

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Vietnam War (1965-1973)

James Robert Bodish

Bodish, James R.
Plainview Avenue
Army

Virtual Wall
Additional Details

James Gilbert Collins

Collins, James G.
Dunster Street
Army

Virtual Wall
Additional Details

James Charles Wonn

Wonn, James C.
Mayville Avenue
Navy

Virtual Wall
Additional Details

Vietnam War Memorial - Washington D.C.
Vietnam War Memorial - Washington D.C.




The Brookline Monument - The Cannon

Brookline Veteran's Park - April 26, 2014.

<Brookline War Memorial> <> <Brookline History>