Elmer B. Denico (February 17, 1928–May 29, 2002)

By Samantha DePrez and Abigail Padfield

Early Life

1930 US Census, Elmer Denico, line 66

Elmer B. Denico, Jr. was born February 17, 1928,1 in Fairfield, Maine, to Elmer B. and Ezilda Denico.2 According to the 1930 US Census, shown here, Elmer Sr. worked as a farmer and carpenter.3 Most of those living in the area at the time were farmers.4 Elmer’s mother Ezilda was born in Canada, emigrated to the United States in 1898, and spoke French.5 Elmer Sr. and Ezilda married April 19, 1927.6 Elmer Jr. had two half-siblings, Osia and Lucien, and one sister Myra.7

Military Service

Elmer B. Denico Jr. enlisted in the US Marine Corps in Portland, Maine, on January 28, 1948, and served in the Korean War and the Vietnam War.8 He trained in Parris Island, South Carolina, with the 2nd Recruit Training Battalion.9 From July 1948 to December 1950, he was located at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. During this time, he rose through the ranks of enlisted men, becoming a Private First Class and a Corporal.10

Unit Diary, April 1951

The Korean War started in June 1950. By January 1951, Denico had transferred from Camp Lejeune to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, and had reached the rank of Sergeant.11 He spent most of 1951 in Pearl Harbor and Korea.12 The April 1951 US Marine Corps Muster Roll, pictured here, describes the journey Denico took to get to Korea. He transferred in San Francisco and sailed on the USS General Mann (TAP-112), a troop transport ship, to Yokohama, Japan, and then eventually to Korea, arriving in April 1951.

After his service in Korea, Denico returned to the United States and was stationed at Camp Pendleton near San Diego, California.13 According to the US Marine Corps Muster Rolls from 1952-1958, he remained at Camp Pendleton.14 Camp Pendleton saw roughly 200,000 Marines come through the camp on their way to Korea and Vietnam for training.15

By January 1952, Denico reached the rank of Staff Sergeant.16 As a Staff Sergeant, he likely assisted the commanding officer, and helped supervise and delegate junior Marines. He probably was responsible for the continued development of one or more Sergeants.17 This means that he likely helped prepare and manage the Marines that were going to and from Vietnam at the beginning of the war, since he was stationed at Camp Pendleton at that time. Camp Pendleton played a big role in the transferring and training of Marines during both the Korean and Vietnam Wars. Today, it is a well known Marine Corps base, rich with history as well as current military activity.18

Denico went to Pearl Harbor again in 1958 during the Vietnam War.19 He served for another nine years, retiring in 1967.20 While still serving in the Marine Corps, Denico married his first wife Roberta J. Rasp on June 20, 1964 in Imperial, California.21 It is not known if they had any children.

Post-Service

Elmer and Roberta Denico divorced in October 1971 in San Diego, California.22 He remained in San Diego, California, for sometime after retiring from the Marine Corps. In 1972, he worked as a chef.23 He remarried on March 19, 1976, to Ida Marie Carrasco in Clark County, Nevada.24 It appears Denico retired to Florida, as many Americans do.25 Elmer Denico passed away on May 29, 2002 in Polk City. He is memorialized in Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell, Florida.26

Endnotes

1 “U.S., Department of Veterans Affairs BIRLS Death File, 1850-2010,” database, Ancestry.com, http://www.ancestry.com (accessed April 20, 2017), entry for Elmer B. Denico.

2 "1930 United States Federal Census,” database, Ancestry.com, http://www.ancestry.com (accessed April 20, 2017) entry for Elmer B. Denico, Year: 1930; Census Place: Fairfield, Somerset, Maine; Roll: 839; Page: 7B; Enumeration District: 0029; Image: 468.0; FHL microfilm: 2340574.

3 Ibid.

4 "1930 United States Federal Census,” entry for Elmer B. Denico.

5 Ibid.

6 “Maine, Marriage Index, 1892-1996,” database, Ancestry.com, http://www.ancestry.com (accessed July 25, 2017) entry for Elmer B. Denico.

7 Ibid.

8 “U.S. Veterans’ Gravesites, ca 1775-2006,” database, Ancestry.com, http://www.ancestry.com (accessed April 20, 2017) , entry for Elmer B. Denico Jr.

9 "U.S. Marine Corps Muster Rolls, 1798-1958,” database, Ancestry.com, http://www.ancestry.com (accessed April 20, 2017), entry for Elmer B. Denico, Microfilm Publication T977, 460 rolls. ARC ID: 922159, Record Group 127, January 1948, Roll 1267.

10 "U.S. Marine Corps Muster Rolls, 1798-1958,” database, Ancestry.com, http://www.ancestry.com (accessed April 20, 2017) entry for Elmer B. Denico, Microfilm Publication T977, 460 rolls. ARC ID: 922159, Record Group 127, July 1948, Roll 1298; "U.S. Marine Corps Muster Rolls, 1798-1958,” database, Ancestry.com, http://www.ancestry.com (accessed April 20, 2017), entry for Elmer B. Denico, Microfilm Publication T977, 460 rolls. ARC ID: 922159, Record Group 127, October 1950, Roll 1396.

11 "U.S. Marine Corps Muster Rolls, 1798-1958,” database, Ancestry.com, http://www.ancestry.com (accessed April 20, 2017), entry for Elmer B. Denico, Microfilm Publication T977, 460 rolls. ARC ID: 922159, Record Group 127, January 1951, Roll 1561.

12 "U.S. Marine Corps Muster Rolls, 1798-1958,” database, Ancestry.com, http://www.ancestry.com (accessed April 20, 2017), entry for Elmer B. Denico, Microfilm Publication T977, 460 rolls. ARC ID: 922159, Record Group 127, April 1951, Roll 1561.

13 "U.S. Marine Corps Muster Rolls, 1798-1958,” database, Ancestry.com, http://www.ancestry.com (accessed April 20, 2017) entry for Elmer B. Denico, Microfilm Publication T977, 460 rolls. ARC ID: 922159, Record Group 127, January 1952, Roll 1855.

14 “U.S. Marine Corps Muster Rolls, 1798-1958,” entry for Elmer B. Denico.

15 “Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton: The West Coast’s Premier Expeditionary Training Base,” Marines, accessed on April 20, 2017, http://www.pendleton.marines.mil/About/History-and-Museums/.

16 "U.S. Marine Corps Muster Rolls, 1798-1958,” database, Ancestry.com, http://www.ancestry.com (accessed April 20, 2017) entry for Elmer B. Denico, Microfilm Publication T977, 460 rolls. ARC ID: 922159, Record Group 127, January 1952, Roll 1855.

17 “Enlisted Marine Corps Ranks,” Military.com, accessed July 25, 2017, http://www.military.com/marine-corps/enlisted-ranks.html.

18 “Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton.”

19 "U.S. Marine Corps Muster Rolls, 1798-1958,” database, Ancestry.com, http://www.ancestry.com (accessed April 20, 2017), entry for Elmer B. Denico, Microfilm Publication T977, 460 rolls. ARC ID: 922159, Record Group 127, January 1958, Roll 3892.

20 “U.S., Department of Veterans Affairs BIRLS Death File, 1850-2010,” entry for Elmer Denico.

21 "California, Marriage Index, 1960-1985" database, Ancestry.com, http://www.ancestry.com (accessed April 20, 2017), entry for Elmer B Denico.

22 "California, Divorce Index, 1966-1984" database, Ancestry.com, http://www.ancestry.com (accessed April 20, 2017), entry for Elmer B. Denico.

23 “U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995,” database, Ancestry.com, http://www.ancestry.com (accessed April 20, 2017), entry for Elmer B. Denico.

24 "Nevada, Marriage Index, 1956-2005" database, Ancestry.com, http://www.ancestry.com (accessed April 20, 2017) ,entry for Elmer Benson Denico.

25 “U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014,” database, Ancestry.com, http://www.ancestry.com (accessed April 20, 2017) entry for Elmer B. Denico, Number: 006-24-9301; Issue State: Maine; Issue Date: Before 1951.

26 “U.S., Department of Veterans Affairs BIRLS Death File, 1850-2010,” entry for Elmer Denico;
National Cemetery Administration, "Elmer B. Denico, Jr.," US Department of Veterans Affairs, accessed September 18, 2018, https://gravelocator.cem.va.gov/NGLMap?ID=7020209

© 2017, University of Central Florida

×
×
© 2017 UCF