In 1942, Frankie “Aldo” Marcellino enlisted in the US Navy as a motor machinist serving on the USS Monrovia. He was awarded the Purple Heart Medal for wounds he received in 1945 while serving his country during World War II in the South Pacific. While serving in the Navy, he was also a light weight boxer, winning the Golden Gloves Award. He continued to box locally after being honorably discharged from the Navy.