World War II Honoree

Teddy Belcheff

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Benson, North Dakota

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

Rank: Private. Inducted into the United States Army August 27, 1941 at Fort Benjamin, Indiana. Upon his graduation from boot camp, he attended the Flight Aviation Training Program. Following the completion of this training, he was deployed to the Philippine Islands Location: Southwest Pacific Theater of Operations, and based at Nichols Airfield Fort McKinley, Manila, Philippines. He served with the 16th Bombardment Squadron, 27th Bombardment Group, and Fifth Bomber Command a subordinate unit of the U.S. Far East Fifth Air Force. His unit participated in the Battle of the Philippines, the conquest of the Philippine Islands by the Imperial Japanese Army and Naval Forces (Battle Dates: December 8, 1941-May 6, 1942). While retreating to the Bataan Peninsula, he was captured on 9 April during the ensuing Battle of Bataan. As a prisoner, his captors subjected him to participate in the Bataan Death March, incarcerated at the Prisoner of War Camp #1 Cabanatuan, Luzon Island. Reported missing in action or buried at sea June 20, 1942. In remembrance of the brave, his name is permanently inscribed in the tablets of the missing, memorialized at Manila American Cemetery and Memorial Location: Fort Bonifacio, Manila, Philippine Islands. In his Memory and Honor, a cenotaph memorial has been placed at the Tahoma National Cemetery Location: Kent, Washington. This American Patriot was awarded the Purple Heart posthumously, for his ultimate sacrifice in defense of his country.