Wayne Louis Torsiello was born on March 29, 1950, in Newark, NJ. He was the only child of Louis and Jeanne Torsiello. His family later moved to Irvington, NJ, before finally settling in Union, NJ. His home of record is Union, NJ. He graduated from Union High School in 1968. Wayne enjoyed baseball and being part of the Cub Scouts. He played for Little League. He played bass guitar and loved music.
Wayne enlisted in the US Marine Corps in October 1968. He trained at Parris Island, SC. He was then transferred to Camp Lejeune, NC. Wayne attained the rank of Sergeant (SGT).
Wayne’s unit was sent overseas to Italy. While in Sicily, the unit was filmed by 20th Century Fox to be used in a movie.
Upon returning from Italy, Wayne was given a 30-day leave. He was then assigned to San Diego, CA. From San Diego, he was sent to Vietnam.
While in Vietnam, Wayne contracted malaria. After he recuperated, he returned to duty. Torsiello was killed in action on May 4, 1970, while helping defend a position in Chang Nang Province in Vietnam. He was shot by a sniper during a firefight.
Torsiello received the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star.
Torsiello’s Bronze Star citation reads:
For heroic achievement in connection with combat operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam while serving as a Squad Leader with Company B, First Battalion, Seventh Marines, First Marine Division. During the early morning hours of 4 May 1970, elements of Company B came under a heavy volume of mortar, small arms, and automatic weapons fire from North Vietnamese Army soldiers concealed in a nearby tree line. Reacting instantly, Sergeant Torsiello directed the accurate fire of his squad at the enemy positions, repeatedly braving the hostile fusillade as he went from one Marine to another to shout encouragement to his men and point out enemy targets. Within a short period of time, the Marines had achieved fire superiority and, seizing the initiative, Sergeant Torsiello launched an aggressive assault against the enemy unit, the momentum of which enabled his men to kill four hostile soldiers and seize numerous items of equipment. When the hostile unit commenced a withdrawal, he led his men in a vigorous pursuit of the rapidly retreating force but was mortally wounded by enemy fire as he valiantly rushed through the tree line in the forefront of his squad. Sergeant Torsiello’s courage, aggressive fighting spirit, and steadfast devotion to duty contributed significantly to the defeat of the North Vietnamese Army unit and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life in the service of his country.
Sources: Jeanne Torsiello (mother) and NJVVMF.
12/17/2024
