World War II Honoree

Robert Edward Belcher

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Haysi, Virginia

Honored By

Linda Belcher Costino

Relationship

Daughter

DATE OF ENTRY INTO ACTIVE SERVICE 16 AUGUST 1944 AT ROANOKE, VIRGINIA. ATTENDED INFANTRY BASIC TRAINING AT FT. RILEY KANSAS, WAS ASSIGNED TO FT. MEADE, MARYLAND AND LEFT THERE FOR CAMP SHANKS, NEW YORK WHERE HE BOARDED THE QUEEN MARY EN ROUTE TO GLASGOW, SCOTLAND. FROM THERE, HE TRAVELED TO SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND, THEN CROSSED THE ENGLISH CHANNEL TO LE HAVRE, FRANCE. HE WAS ASSIGNED TO THE FRONT LINES IN GERMANY WITH THE 94TH CAVALRY TROOP ATTACHED TO THE 14TH ARMORED DIVISION IN THE 7TH ARMY UNDER GENERAL PATCH AS A RECONNAISSANCE CAR CREWMAN TO OBSERVE THE MOVEMENT AND DISPOSITION OF ENEMY UNITS AND PERSONNEL AND REPORT THIS INFORMATION TO UNITS. HE WAS A GUNNER ON A JEEP WITH A 30 CALIBER MACHINE GUN. AT THE END OF THE WAR, HE WAS A SUPPLY CLERK WITH THE ARMY OCCUPATION FORCES AT THE DISPLACED PERSONS CAMP IN ISOM, GERMANY. HIS UNIT IN THE SEVENTH ARMY WAS TRANSFERRED TO GENERAL GEORGE PATTON'S 3RD ARMY SOMEWHERE NEAR MUNICH. HE WAS AWARDED THE BRONZE STAR AND GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL. DATE OF SEPARATION 10 APRIL 1946 AT FORT GEORGE G. MEADE, MARYLAND.