Austin R. Brunelli

Austin Roger Brunelli (August 20, 1907 – September 23, 1989) was a highly decorated American combat veteran of World War II and the Korean War. As the commanding officer of the 1st Battalion, 24th Marines during the Battle of Iwo Jima, he was awarded the Navy Cross, the United States military's second-highest decoration awarded for valor in combat. He later served as chief of staff of the 1st Marine Division in Korea and commanding general of Camp Lejeune.

Early career

Austin R. Brunelli was born on August 20, 1907, in small mining town, Blossburg, New Mexico, as the oldest child of Ernest and Minnie Brunelli. His family later moved to Raton, New Mexico, where he attended local high school, graduating in 1924. Brunelli subsequently attended Colorado College for two years, before he received an appointment to the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland. After four years of studies, during which he was active in football, baseball and boxing, he graduated with the rank of second lieutenant in the Marine Corps on June 4, 1931.

Like any other new Marine officer, Brunelli was sent for further officer training at the Basic School at Philadelphia Navy Yard. He spent one year there, before he was attached to the Naval Prison Detachment at Marine Barracks Parris Island, South Carolina in July 1932. Brunelli was transferred to the Marine detachment aboard the aircraft carrier USS Lexington in March 1934 and spent next sixteen months on patrol duties along the West Coast.

In June 1934, Brunelli was promoted to the rank of first lieutenant and one year later w

was transferred to San Diego, California, where he was attached to the 2nd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment stationed there. Apparently influenced by his service on the aircraft carrier USS Lexington, Brunelli asked for naval aviator training and was transferred to Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida in January 1936.

World War II

Brunelli returned to the United States at the end of May 1940 and following the one-month leave, he was transferred for new assignment at Headquarters Marine Corps in Washington, D.C. He was subsequently appointed to the prestigious capacity of aide to the Commandant of the Marine Corps, Thomas Holcomb in July 1940. Brunelli remained at Headquarters Marine Corps until June 1943, when he was sent for instruction to the Marine Corps Command and Staff College at Quantico. He graduated from the course in September 1943 and was promoted to major.

Lieutenant Colonel Brunelli took part in the Battle of Tinian one month later and following the promotion of regiment's commanding officer, Franklin A. Hart at the end of August 1944, Brunelli assumed temporary command of the 24th Marine Regiment. All of the 4th Marine Division's units had been weakened by combat and were ordered back to Hawaii for rest and refit. He led the 24th Marines to Maui and subsequently passed command to the regiment's new commanding officer, Colonel Walter I. Jordan, on September 7, 1944.

He spent the following four months in intensive training and preparation for the upcoming Battle of Iwo Jima, before he left Hawaii at the beginning of January 1945. The 24th Marines landed on Iwo Jima on February 19, 1945, and after two weeks of fighting, fierce enemy resistance had significantly reduced the 1st Battalion. Brunelli was wounded for the second time during the battle, but returned to the front lines and assumed command of the 1st Battalion. He personally made a reconnaissance of his entire front line and then reorganized his badly depleted units into two rifle companies and resumed the attack until all enemy resistance was defeated.

Brunelli was originally decorated with another Silver Star medal, but this decoration was later upgraded to Navy Cross, the United States military's second-highest decoration awarded for valor in combat.

Korea and later career

Hardly depleted, the 4th Marine Division was subsequently ordered again back to Hawaii in April 1945, where it remained until the end of the war. During August 1945, Brunelli was appointed commanding general of the 4th Division Service Troops, assuming responsible for the supply, salvage, evacuation, construction, personnel management, quartering and sanitation needs of all 4th Marine Division units. Brunelli sailed with 4th Marine Division to the United States in November 1945 and subsequently supervised its deactivation at Camp Pendleton, California on November 28, 1945.