Paul Albert Petrilla
Page edited 30-Dec-23. ET
Born March 21, 1935 in Warren, Trumbull County, Ohio. He was the second child of Andrew Michael Petrilla and Mary Martha Timko.
Description
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Paul was pf average build and average in height (5 foot 8 inches). He had brown, green eyes and wore glasses for the majority of his life..
Early Years
- Childhood - In his teens, Paul played the drums in a small polka band called the Polka Dots with his brother David and two friends.
- Siblings
- Elizabeth Jane Petrilla
- John David Petrilla
Education
Paul graduated from Warren G. Harding High School in Warren, Trumbull County, Ohio in 1953.
He graduated from Central Technical Institute, Kansas City, MO in 1957
Religion
Paul was baptized into the Catholic faith.
He was a member of Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church at 3020 Reeves Road, Warren, Trumbull County, Ohio.
Military Service Years
Sgt Paul Albert Petrilla served in the U.S. Marine Corps. He began serving on 20 Mar 1953 and was discharged on 26 Jan 1956. He served as a Radio Repairman. Received the National Defense Service Medal and the Good Conduct Medal.[1]
His Boot Camp Story - “I graduated from Warren G. Harding on Jan 22, 1953 and went to Cleveland on Jan 25 for my physical. No one thought that I would pass my physical because of my eyesight. Come to find out I also had a punctured eardrum. I thought I was finished. After the physical we were all in one room and were asked “is there any reason that you can’t serve in the military?” No answers and then the Officer proceeded with the swearing in. Later I called home and told Mom that I was leaving after dinner for Parris Island and she wouldn’t believe me. We took the train to D.C. and arrived there at 7 am to change trains for Parris Island. I did not know anyone on the train and took a while to get acquainted.
We arrived that night in Yammasee, SC at 10 pm and were put up in a barracks in town. This was my first instance of segregation as they took all the blacks to another building. In the morning we went to a restaurant for breakfast and the blacks ate in a room behind the kitchen, Getting on the bus to go to PI they were on the bus in the rear. When we got to Parris Island (it really is an island with a causeway for access) we got off the bus and the segregation ended there. After getting our haircut and getting some of our clothes we went to evening chow which was not a happy event. When you got your tray and went along the line the mess men plopped something on your tray and you moved on. Some of the meal was unidentifiable so I figured I would skip that. When we were finished you took your tray to dunk it in boiling water before stacking them. My DI stood by the GI can for scraps and he saw that I had not eaten all of it and made me use my fingers to clean off and eat it all. I didn’t menton that I was 30 lbs overweight and was told that I would not leave Parris Island until I lost that. I quit eating that day.
For 12 weeks we never got any time to ourselves. From 5:30 am to 10 pm we were kept busy and had time from 9 pm to 10 pm to shower and clean rifles and write letters. Weekends were the same with the exception we could go to church but then came back to do laundry (outside) and clean our gear.
I left out all the strange things that they made us do but you’ve probably seen or heard of most of them. After 8 weeks we went out to the rifle range and spent one week learning firing positions and pulling targets for other platoons. The second week was live firing and preparing to fire for qualification. If there is one big deal in the Marine Corps it’s firing for qualification. If you do not qualify, life can be miserable. I was fortunate to fire sharpshooter and missed expert by two points.
The last two weeks was getting ready for graduation, getting our dress uniforms, pictures taken and preparing for final inspection. We were all waiting for our orders as to where we would be transferred and what our status would be. When we enlisted we were not able to choose our job or schooling. This was done by the Marines after you took the GCT test. During that test you took several different categories and they selected where they wanted or needed you. At the final inspection our platoon came first in all categories which made us “Post Honor Platoon” and our DI’s happy as it was a reflection on them. Orders came out and I was selected for Electronics School in Chicago at the Great Lakes Naval Station. Most everyone else was sent to the Fleet Marine Force (Infantry) for further transfer to Korea. I was also promoted to PFC and I did lose the 30 lbs as I was not going to stay at Parris Island for any reason. In July while I was in school in Chicago the North Koreans signed the peace treaty. I always liked to think that they heard that I was through boot camp and I would eventually be coming their way.
After 16 weeks of Class A Electronics school I was transferred to Marine Corps Recruit Depot for specialty school for ground to air communications. At the end of 12 weeks I received orders to Norfolk Naval Base in Virginia and served in several different communications billets.
My enlistment was for three years and most of my duty was in Norfolk Va. as an Avionics Technician with Headquarters Squadron, Aircraft Fleet Marine Force. I was a technician and because I had been studying for my Amateur Radio license and knew Morse code I did a lot of flying as an Airborne Radio Operator. I completed my tour of duty and was discharged on Jan 26, 1956 with the rank of Sergeant.
All in all, looking back 62 years to what I have been able to accomplish from the age of 17 until now I have to give a lot of credit to the Corps to show me all the things I could do if I really applied myself. Most everything I have done or will do is because of the confidence they have instilled in me.
God bless America and the United States Marine Corps.”[2]
Military Service(s): U.S. Marine Corps
Family Years
How he met his wife - Ann & I had always known each other as our family’s belonged to Sts Cyril and Methodius church forever. We attended Catechism for many years, and we knew the “twins” but didn’t really connect then. After completing Catechism, we only met at church functions and dances. After I gone into the Marines, I come home one weekend and my friend told me that he was invited to a wedding and that I could go with him. When we got to the wedding Ann and a friend were there and we danced and spent the evening with them. Later we took them home and I asked Ann if I could write to her and she agreed. For the next year and a half, we wrote and dated whenever I came home. After my discharge I came home and worked at Denman Tire for six months and then went to Kansas City MO. to Central Technical Institute to obtain my First Class Engineers License in broadcasting In the meantime Ann had graduated from Warren G. Harding and was working as a secretary at US Gypsum.. After two years I completed the course and came home to Warren and got a job as an engineer at WICA AM and FM in Ashtabula, OH and we were married on June 14th, 1958
Paul married Anna Rita Karafa on June 14, 1958 at Sts. Cyril and Methodius Catholic Church in Warren, Trumbull County, Ohio.. The couple had four children: two boys - Dennis Edward and Charles Michael, and two girls - Theresa Marie and Susan Mary.
The couple had four children;
- Theresa Marie Petrilla
- Dennis Edward Petrilla
- Susan Mary Petrilla
- Charles Michael Petrilla
Residences
- Lived on 815 Fifth Street, Warren, Trumbull Co, Ohio in 1940
- Lived at 1453 Oak Street SW in Warren, Trumbull County, OH in 1956
- Lived in Astabula, OH just after he was married
- Lived at 874 Adams St, Warren, OH, 44483
- Lived at 1940 Irene Ave NE, Warren, OH, 44483-3533 (1990)
- Lived at 309 Wae Trail, Cortland, OH, 44410-1638 (1993)
Working Years
He was employed as an engineer at Ajax Magnethermic in Warren, OH for 32 years.
Previously he worked at Packard Electric Division of General Motors, Federal Machine & Welder, Wean Engineering, and as a station engineer at WICA Radio & Television station in Ashtabula, Ashtabula County, Ohio after his marriage to Anna.
Personal Life
He loved working with computers and being a Ham Radio Operator - KB8YV
Paul, an avid reader, never missed his weekly trip to the local library. Most evenings he could be found in his favorite comfy chair reading late into the night.
He also loved to do crosswords, jigsaw puzzles and going to The Hot Dog Shoppe in Warren.
After his retirement, he become increasingly involved at his parish, Blessed Sacrament Church
Death
Paul passed away from Covid on May 29, 2021 in Leesburg, Loudon County, Virginia.
HIs remains were cremated in Leesburg, Loudoun County, Virginia. His ashes were interred in All Souls Cemetery in Bazetta, Trumbull County, Ohio.The cemetery is on Hoagland-Blackstub Road, one mile north of SR 305 in Cortland, Trumbull County, Ohio. This cemetery is approximately 7-8 miles north of Warren, Ohio. His grave can be found in Section 3, Lot 2319, Graves 1.