Carmen Jerome Lomurno

CORPORAL CARMEN JEROME LOMURNO was born Jerome Carmen Lomurno in 1921 to Dominick and Fannie LoMurno. His father passed in 1925, his mother in 1939. Jerome Lomurno lived at 1037 South 5th Street in Camden NJ, where he had been employed by the New York Shipbuilding Company in Camden before joining the Marine Corps on July 27, 1942. When he joined the Marines, he enlisted under the name Carmen Jerome Lomurno. He went overseas as a member of the 3rd Marine Division in February of 1943. He saw action on Bougainville, Guam, and other Pacific islands, before taking art in the landings on Iwo Jima in 1945

The Third Marine Division landed on Iwo Jima on February 24, and the next morning launched an attack in its zone between the 4th and 5th Marine Divisions. The 3d Marine Division faced well-organized and determined enemy resistance. The terrain, ideal for defense, was heavily fortified by pillboxes, caves, and covered artillery emplacements. Progress was slow and casualties heavy during the first few days of fighting. The Division slowly pushed the enemy back and by March 3 had severed the last enemy east-west artery of communication by occupying positions overlooking the sea. The 3d Marine Division secured its zone of action on March 11 and then initiated intensive patrolling and mopping-up operations. 

Corporal Carmen Lomurno was killed in action on Iwo Jima in March of 1945. On March 12, 1945 Corporal Lomurno was heard on the radio from Iwo Jima, relating his experiences of being lost in a cave with an officer and another marine and being listed as missing for two days. The Camden Courier-Post December 31, 1948 edition lists his date of death as March 2, 1945. As of this writing, the correct date in March is not known.

Jerome Carmen Lomurno was brought home to New Jersey after the war. He was buried at New St. Mary's Cemetery in Bellmawr NJ on January 3, 1948, where he rests next to his parents. He was survived by his sister Mildred, of 1037 South 5th Street, Camden NJ, three other sisters, Mamie, Mary, and Rose, and four brothers, Frank, Peter, John, and Daniel, who was in the service when Carmen Lomurno was killed in action. 

December 31, 1948

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