Robert A. Cuccinelli was born on April 30, 1949, to Antonio and Viola Cuccinelli. His home of record is Ridgefield Park, NJ. He had one sister, Patricia, and two brothers, Michael and Anthony. Robert attended Ridgefield Park High School and Bergen County Technical High School.

Cuccinelli began serving in the US Marine Corps in September 1967. He completed basic training at Parris Island and Advanced Infantry Training at Camp LeJeune, NC. Prior to being sent to Vietnam, he completed field training at Camp Pendleton, CA. He left from El Toro Air Station to Okinawa, eventually landing in DaNang, Vietnam, in March 1968. He attained the rank of Private First Class (PFC).

A month later, he received a Purple Heart for shrapnel wounds he received during his first month of duty. He was assigned to India Company, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment. For a short time, he was part of the Combined Action Program. This was an all-volunteer effort made up of 12 Marines and Navy Corpsman to go out into villages to assist villagers in setting up a protective fighting force.

Two months later, on July 15, 1968, Cuccinelli was again struck by shrapnel while on patrol in Quang Nam Province. Two days later, on July 17, 1968, he died. He is listed as killed in action.

Services were held at Voorhees Funeral Home with an honor guard by the American Legion Post 40 of Ridgefield Park. A high requiem mass was offered at St. Francis Roman Catholic Church in Ridgefield Park. He is buried in Holy Cross Cemetery in North Arlington, NJ.

Sources: Stephan Constantinou (cousin), various websites and NJVVMF.
12/17/2024