he San Pedro World War II Memorial was the brainchild of Steve Marconi, a second-generation San Pedran and longtime journalist who was concerned by the lack of recognition for the town's many men who died in the war.

   wo years of research concluded last year when he contacted Green Hills Memorial Park to ask if it would be interested in helping honor these men. The Board of Director approved the concept and the funds necessary for it. With the help and generosity of a major supplier to Green Hills Memorial Park, United Memorial Products, the project was completed in May 2005.    

   he monument was unveiled last Memorial Day, engraved with the names of 163 men from every branch of the service, including the merchant marine, and civilians such as Robert Bryan. he was the contractor who died in the defense of Wake Island.

   any of the men, like Bryan, were born and raised in San Pedro and attended San Pedro schools. Many others, however, had made San Pedro their home over the years when the Pacific Fleet had been based here in the 1930's or had shipped out on merchant vessels or had been based at Fort MacArthur.

   he close association with the Pacific Fleet, which relocated to Pearl Harbor in 1940, resulted in San Pedro losing 21 sailors on December 7, 1941, including six on the USS Arizona.

   esearch continues into another dozen or so men who may yet qualify for placement on the memorial. Anyone who has information pertinent to San Pedrans who died in World War II can contact Steve Marconi at (310) 427-2043 or by email at spmarconi@yahoo.com