World War II Honoree

Lawrence Fitzhugh 'Chub' Bellatti

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Stillwater, Oklahoma

Honored By

Lawrence L. Bellatti

Relationship

Son

SERVED IN THE AMERICAN THEATER AS A STOREKEEPER SECOND CLASS WITH THE SEABEES, STATIONED AT THE NAVAL CONSTRUCTION TRAINING CENTER AT CAMP ENDICOTT AT DAVISVILLE, RHODE ISLAND IN APRIL, 1944. SERVED OVERSEAS IN THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC THEATER ABOARD THE BATTLESHIP USS TENNESSEE (BB-43). THE BATTLESHIP PARTICIPATED IN OPERATIONS AT IWO JIMA IN THE BONIN ISLANDS ARCHIPELAGO FROM FEBRUARY-MARCH, 1945, AND AT OKINAWA IN THE RYUKYU ISLANDS FROM MARCH-JUNE, 1945. THE SHIP’S 14-INCH GUNS FIRED ON MOUNT SURIBACHI ON IWO JIMA ON FEBRUARY 16, 1945. THEN, PROVIDED HEAVY BOMBARDMENT TO SUPPORT FIGHTING ON IWO JIMA UNTIL MARCH 7, 1945. THE WARSHIP FIRED A PRE-LANDING BOMBARDMENT OF OKINAWA ON MARCH 26, 1945. THEN SUPPORTED LANDINGS AND GROUND FORCE OPERATIONS ASHORE UNTIL THE ISLAND WAS SECURED ON JUNE 21, 1945. DURING THIS TIME, HIS SHIP BATTLED, DAY AND NIGHT, AGAINST AN UNREMITTING ‘KAMIKAZE’ OFFENSIVE. ON THE AFTERNOON OF APRIL 12, 1945, FIVE ‘KAMIKAZE’ SUICIDE PLANES SINGLED USS TENNESSEE OUT FOR ATTACK. FOUR WERE SHOT DOWN, BUT ONE JAPANESE DIVE-BOMBER CRASHED INTO THE SIGNAL BRIDGE OF HIS SHIP. IT CARRIED A 250-POUND BOMB WHICH, WENT THROUGH THE DECK AND EXPLODED, KILLING 22 OF HIS SHIPMATES AND WOUNDING 107. AFTER THE DEAD WERE BURIED AT SEA AND EMERGENCY REPAIRS MADE, THE SHIP RETURNED TO THE FIRING LINE AND REMAINED OFF OKINAWA FOR TWO MORE WEEKS. THE VESSEL SAILED TO ULITHI ATOLL IN THE CAROLINE ISLANDS ON MAY 1, 1945 FOR REPAIRS, RETURNED TO OKINAWA ON JUNE 9, 1945, AND RESUMED GUNFIRE SUPPORT UNTIL THE OPERATION ENDED ON JUNE 21, 1945. THE WARSHIP COVERED MINESWEEPING OPERATIONS IN THE EAST CHINA SEA AND PATROLLED THE WATERS OFF SHANGHAI, CHINA FOR JAPANESE SHIPPING UNTIL VICTORY OVER JAPAN DAY (V-J DAY) ON SEPTEMBER 2, 1945, ENDED THE WAR IN THE PACIFIC. ON THAT DAY, HIS SHIP WAS OPERATING OUT OF OKINAWA AND PREPARING TO TAKE PART IN THE PLANNED INVASION OF JAPAN. AFTER THE END OF HOSTILITIES, THE BATTLESHIP COVERED THE LANDING OF OCCUPATION FORCES AT WAKAYAMA, JAPAN ON SEPTEMBER 23, 1945. THEN, SAILED ON TO THE NAVAL BASE AT YOKOSUKA, JAPAN. AWARDED THE COMBAT ACTION RIBBON, NAVY UNIT COMMENDATION, CHINA SERVICE MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL, AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL. HONORABLY DISCHARGED IN 1946 AND ISSUED THE WWII HONORABLE DISCHARGE LAPEL PIN.