World War II Honoree

Lee C. Belt

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

El Dorado, Kansas

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

Rank: Corporal. Inducted into the United States Army January 18, 1941 at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. 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 Clark Airfield, Luzon Island. He served with Headquarters Bombardment Squadron, 19th 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 #4 O’Donnell, Luzon Island. On July 20, 1942 he died of unknown causes, with burial in the Prisoner Cemetery. Succeeding hostilities with Japan personnel from a Graves Registration Company disinterred his remains from the camp cemetery, and were laid to rest in the United States Armed Forces Cemetery Location: Manila #2 Manila, Philippine Islands. The family of this Airman requested that he be buried with Military Honors at Belle Vista Cemetery Location: El Dorado, Kansas. This American Patriot was awarded the Purple Heart posthumously, for his ultimate sacrifice in defense of his country.