World War II Honoree

Frank C. Belitsky

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Honored By

Charles B. Church, III

ENTERED THE ARMY OF THE UNITED STATES IN 1942 FROM PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA. AFTER ADVANCING TO THE RANK OF CORPORAL, HE WAS SELECTED TO ATTEND OFFICER'S CANDIDATE SCHOOL AT FORT SILL, OKLAHOMA, GRADUATING WITH THE RANK OF SECOND LIEUTENANT. SERVED WITH THE 90TH DIVISION IN TEXAS AND WITH THE 100TH DIVISION IN FORT BRAGG, NORTH CAROLINA FOR INFANTRY TRAINING. ASSIGNED TO THE 71ST INFANTRY DIVISION IN SOUTHERN GERMANY AND AUSTRIA. THERE HE SAW COMBAT ACTION AS A PLATOON LEADER AND FORWARD ARTILLERY OBSERVER WITH THE 5TH INFANTRY REGIMENT. SERVED A TOTAL OF 21 YEARS AND RETIRED WITH THE RANK OF LIEUTENANT COLONEL. AWARDS INCLUDE THE BRONZE STAR, THE COMBAT INFANTRYMAN'S BADGE, THE EUROPE-AFRICA-MIDDLE EAST CAMPAIGN MEDAL, THE WORLD WAR II VICTORY MEDAL, THE NATIONAL DEFENSE SERVICE MEDAL, THE ARMY COMMENDATION MEDAL, AND THE ARMED FORCES RESERVE MEDAL.