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SCRANTON — The remains of a Navy veteran who died aboard the USS Glennon following the D-Day invasion in 1944 were buried with full military honors during a ceremony at St. Mary’s Cemetery on Thursday.
Jerome “Jerry” Martin Mullaney, the youngest of three brothers to serve in the military, came home to his family surrounded by members of the military, family members, community leaders and clergy.
In remarks at the grave site, Rear Admiral David Faehnle said that because Mullaney was only 17, it was necessary for him to get his parents’ approval to enlist, which they provided even though he had three older brothers who had also enlisted.
Just one year later, on the morning of June 8, 1944, Mullaney was a crewman aboard the destroyer USS Glennon when a mine exploded near its stern with such force the blast sent 16 sailors into the water, some thrown as high as 40 feet.
The stern of the ship became lodged on the seafloor, and nearly 200 sailors — including all the wounded and 12 officers — were evacuated.
On June 10, the ship sank, with Mullaney and 24 other seamen lost.
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The Honor Guard folds the flag that covered Purple Heart recipient Jerome Mullaney’s casket during his burial service at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Scranton on Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2025. (REBECCA PARTICKA/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
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The Honor Guard carries Purple Heart recipient Jerome Mullaney out of the hearse at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Scranton on Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2025. (REBECCA PARTICKA/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
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The Honor Guard carries Purple Heart recipient Jerome Mullaney to his final resting place during his burial service at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Scranton on Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2025. Mullaney served on the destroyer USS Glennon during WWII. He was killed in action when the ship struck a German mine. The U.S. Navy POW/MIA recently identified Mullaney’s remains. (REBECCA PARTICKA/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
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A member of the Navy plays Taps during the burial service for Purple Heart recipient Jerome Mullaney at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Scranton on Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2025. (REBECCA PARTICKA/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
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A member of the Honor Guard holds the flag that covered Purple Heart recipient Jerome Mullaney’s casket at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Scranton on Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2025. (REBECCA PARTICKA/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
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The Navy firing squad ready their guns during the burial service for Purple Heart recipient Jerome Mullaney at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Scranton on Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2025. (REBECCA PARTICKA/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
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Bikers roll into St. Mary’s Cemetery in Scranton in preparation for the burial service for Purple Heart recipient Jerome Mullaney on Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2025. (REBECCA PARTICKA/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
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The Honor Guard folds the flag that covered Purple Heart recipient Jerome Mullaney’s casket during his burial service at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Scranton on Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2025. (REBECCA PARTICKA/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
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His family back home waited and prayed, but his remains were not identified and his loved ones never had the opportunity for a proper burial.
But that was not the end of the story.
In 1957, pieces of the USS Glennon were recovered and broken down for scrap, when human remains were identified and turned over to American officials.
At that time, the Navy concluded there was insufficient evidence to identify the remains and buried them as “unknown.”
But in 2022 Mullaney’s remains were exhumed, and on March 26 of this year, through DNA analysis, his remains were positively identified and he headed home to rest.
Remembering a family member
Danielle Trentacost, Mullaney’s great-niece, traveled from New Jersey to attend Thursday’s service.
She recalled Mullaney was one of 10 children, of whom her grandmother was the last born. Because Mullaney was closest in age, the two were extremely close.
Her grandmother, she said, named her firstborn son Jerome, in memory of her beloved brother.
Then about five years ago, Trentacost’s mother, Laura Puorro, and another family member were asked to submit their DNA to identify Mullaney’s remains.
Since that time, Puorro has passed away. Trentacost, along with her husband, Victor, and daughter Mia attended to represent her “Nona.”
“She would be his great-great-niece,” Trentacost said of her daughter.
Trentacost was among more than a dozen family members who attended the solemn service and were presented with the American flag that draped Mullaney’s casket.
Great sacrifice for his country
Lt. Cmdr. Andrew Skaros of the Navy Reserve Center, Avoca, oversees seamen participating in military funerals.
Like all such funerals, Thursday’s service was held to honor a fallen hero.
It’s been about three years, however, since the group has participated in a repatriation service.
“I’m definitely proud of them,” Skaros said of the sailors participating in full uniform for the ceremony.
The Rev. James Paisley of St. Ann’s Basilica Parish, Scranton, said, “We can’t begin to imagine what this Purple Heart recipient went through.”
Mullaney, he said, sacrificed his life to benefit his countrymen.
“May this brave soldier now rest in eternal peace,” Paisley concluded.
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