World War II Honoree

Joe Belarde

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Montrose, Colorado

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

RANK: PRIVATE. ENTERED THE U.S. ARMY IN 1943, TRAINED AT CAMP FANNIN, TEXAS AND DEPLOYED TO FRENCH MOROCCO JANUARY 2, 1943, ASSIGNED TO THE 338TH INFANTRY REGIMENT, 85TH INFANTRY ‘CUSTER’ DIVISION. RECEIVED AMPHIBIOUS TRAINING AT PORT AUX POULES NEAR ARZEW AND ORAN, ALGERIA. HE WAS SHIPPED ALONG WITH HIS REGIMENT TO NAPLES, ITALY AND ENTERED COMBAT, HIS FIRST BAPTISM OF FIRE ON APRIL 10, 1943 DURING THE BATTLE OF THE GUSTAV LINE. KILLED IN ACTION, TUESDAY, AUGUST 22,1944 IN THE VICINITY OF THE ARNO-RIVER LINE AND IS BURIED AT THE FLORENCE AMERICAN CEMETERY, VIA CASSIA, ITALY. AWARDED THE PURPLE HEART MEDAL.