Marion Patrick Carcirieri

Sgt. Major (Ret) Marion “Cass” Carcirieri, 96, of Jacksonville, NC, passed away on January 10, 2022 in Greensboro, NC Services will be held on Thursday, January 20. Visitation will be from 12pm to 1pm on Thursday, January 20 at Infant of Prague Catholic Church in Jacksonville, NC. Mass will follow visitation at 1pm. Burial with full military honors will follow at 2pm at Coastal Carolina State Veterans Cemetery, 110 Montford Point Road, Jacksonville, NC. Mr. Carcirieri was born in Havre de Grace, Maryland to Eugene and Gaetana on December 31, 1925. He married Joan McNulty in 1956 in Boston, Massachusetts. He was a fiercely dedicated Marine who served for 31 years and was a veteran of three wars. In March of 1944, he enlisted and completed his Recruit Training at Parris Island, South Carolina. After recruit training, he was assigned to the 4th Marine Regiment and participated in the Invasion of Okinawa – the last campaign of World War II. He then served with the occupation forces of Japan. In 1946, Mr. Carcirieri returned to the United States briefly before being deployed to Pelping and South Field in China with the Military Police Company, 1st Division. Later that year, he returned back to the United States. He remained with the 1st Marine Division until 1947, when he was stationed in Guam and joined the 1st Marine Brigade. In 1949, he was deployed back to China where he served in Shanghi, Nanking, and Tsingtao with the 3d and 9th Marine Regiments. He returned to the United States and was assigned to Camp Lejeune for duty with the 2d Marine Division. In 1951, Mr. Carcirieri was deployed to the Republic of Korea as part of the Company F, 2d Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment’s efforts in the Korean War. It was during this time when he was wounded in battle. He returned the United States in 1952 and was stationed at the Boston Navy Yard. After serving tours with the 2d Marine Division and various posts and stations across the globe, he was assigned to Company F, 2d Battalion, 3d Marine Regiment Special Landing Force for duty in The Republic of Vietnam from 1967 to 1968. Mr. Carcirieri retired from the Marine Corps in 1974 after serving as Sergeant Major at the Rifle Range in Camp Lejeune. During his service, some of the awards earned were the Bronze Star Medal with Combat “V”, Purple Heart, Good Conduct Medal (9th Award), China Service Medal, American Defense Service Medal, American Campaign Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with one star, World War II Victory Medal, Navy Occupation Service Medal, Korean Service Medal with three stars, Vietnam Service Medal with three stars, Korean Presidential Unit Citation, Vietnam Presidential Citation, Republic of Vietnam Unit Citation, United Nation’s Service Medal, United Nations Medal, and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal. In 1976, Mr. Carcirieri began working for Marine Corps Community Services. He proudly worked with MCCS until the time of his death. He was a man of faith. He was a devout Catholic and was longtime member of Infant of Prague Catholic Church in Jacksonville, NC. Mr. Carcirieri is preceded in death by his wife Joan, his father Eugene, his mother Gaetana, sister Philomena Broadwater, sister Angelina Voice, and brother Tony Carcirieri. He is survived by son Patrick and wife Laura, daughter Bettina Hunter, grandson Jason Hunter, grandson John Hunter, grandson Michael Carcirieri and wife Tiffany, granddaughter Jennifer Carcirieri, great-grandson Gage Hunter, sister-in-law Peggy Carcirieri, and loving nieces and nephews. Flowers will be happily accepted by the family. Memorials may also be given to the USO of Jacksonville (northcarolina.uso.org/jacksonville) or at the Nature Conservancy (nature.org).