World War II Honoree

William Ellsworth Belden

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Racine, Wisconsin

Honored By

Bill Belden

Relationship

Son

1941-1943, SERVED AS MIDSHIPMAN, U.S. NAVAL RESERVE, MARQUETTE UNIVERSITY. 1943-1945, SERVED WITH THE 70TH INFANTRY DIVISION, 274TH REGIMENT, U.S. ARMY IN FRANCE AND GERMANY AS HEAD OF A 40MM MACHINE GUN SQUAD. JULY 1945, AWARDED THE BRONZE STAR. AUGUST 1945, AWARDED THE FIRST OAK LEAF CLUSTER TO THE BRONZE STAR. OTHER AWARDS INCLUDE THE VICTORY MEDAL, AMERICAN THEATER RIBBON, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN THEATER RIBBON, TWO OVERSEAS SERVICE BARS, EXPERT RIFLEMAN BAR AND GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL. AFTER COMBAT WAS FINISHED, WAS ASSIGNED AS COMPANY HISTORIAN. THIS ACTIVITY WAS USED AS A COVER, AS HE BECAME AN AGENT FOR THE ARMY COMBAT INFANTRY DIVISION, HELPING APPREHEND GUN-RUNNERS IN SPAIN AND ITALY.