Seaman

United States Navy

Peter Joseph DiBella was born on July 14 1943, in Portsmouth, N.H., the son of Mr. and Mrs. John J. DiBella.  During his youth in Portsmouth, Peter's interests were always with the sea, and his ambition was to be a man of the sea.

When he was graduated from high school, his school's yearbook featured a photograph of the submarine U.S.S. Thresher (SSN 593).

On January 16, 1962, Peter enlisted in the Navy, and received his basic training at the U.S. Naval Training Center, Great Lakes, Ill.  Upon completing his training, he was enrolled in the Navy's Electronic Technicians School at the great Lakes.

Peter volunteered for submarine duty, and being accepted, he was enrolled as a student in the Submarine School at the U.S. Naval Submarine Base, New London, Conn.  Following graduation, he was assigned as a crew member of the nuclear-powered submarine U.S.S. Thresher (SSN 593).  He reported for duty at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard on January 5, 1963.

Peter had been awarded a letter of commendation from the commander of Submarine Development Group 2, for his outstanding performance of duty.

Peter is survived by his parents, Mr. and Mrs John J. DiBella, a brother, Frank and a sister, Elizabeth Ann, all of Portsmouth, N.H.  He also leaves his aunts, Miss Antonette DiBella of Hartford, Conn., and Mrs. Mildred Saffell of Portsmouth.