KIA. Entered the service from Montrose, Colorado/
SERVICE # 37704391
STATE: Colorado
CASUALTY: 08-22-1944
WAR: World War II
SERVICE: Army
RANK: Private
UNIT: 85th Infantry Division, 338th Infantry Regiment.
BURIAL: Plot C Row 1 Grave 37, Florence American Cemetery, Florence, Italy
AWARDS:
★ Purple Heart
★ Combat Infantryman Badge
★ American Campaign Medal
★ World War II Victory Medal
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.
Joe Belarde was born to the parents Emelio and Pauline Belarde Rodrquez in Walsenburgh Colorado. He is the brother to his sisters Jennie Romero, Stella Ordenana, Marta Belarde, and Emily Duran. His brothers are Eddie and Leroy Belarde. Joe Belarde is my Uncle. The only living sibling is my Mother, Emily Duran. She was only six years old when he died in the line of duty in World War 11. So there is not to much she can remember about him. He died for his country at a young age of 19. She does remember as she was growing up how hard it was on her Mother to lose her son. The family has always been hurt about losing him. However, being proud of him for his bravery will always be remembered. My grandmother once opened up a chest where she kept his belongings. Being proud of her son, she showed me his purple heart, along with a a folded up American flag. There were also some letters he had wrote to her. She cherished everything in that chest. I asked her how she felt about him. She said that painful day she was notified will never go away. What touched me was even though it was many years later she contiued to hold him tight to her heart. I know that when she seen that chest in the closet, there was a memory in there....her sons purple heart. It is a treasure for the memory of Joe Belarde. I dont know to much about my Uncle Joe. I dont know what he liked such as hobbies. I dont know what his point of interests were. What I do know he was loved. To be loved and missed tells you he was a good person. With the circumstances of the war, he was buried in a foreign land in Italy. I wish I could of known my Uncle Joe. For some reason I feel I do. Pvt. Joe Belarde, you will never be forgotton.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ KIA...
SERVICE # 37704391
STATE: Colorado
CASUALTY: 08-22-1944
WAR: World War II
SERVICE: Army
RANK: Private
UNIT: 85th Infantry Division, 338th Infantry Regiment.
BURIAL: Plot C Row 1 Grave 37, Florence American Cemetery, Florence, Italy
AWARDS:
★ Purple Heart
★ Combat Infantryman Badge
★ American Campaign Medal
★ World War II Victory Medal
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.
Joe Belarde was born to the parents Emelio and Pauline Belarde Rodrquez in Walsenburgh Colorado. He is the brother to his sisters Jennie Romero, Stella Ordenana, Marta Belarde, and Emily Duran. His brothers are Eddie and Leroy Belarde. Joe Belarde is my Uncle. The only living sibling is my Mother, Emily Duran. She was only six years old when he died in the line of duty in World War 11. So there is not to much she can remember about him. He died for his country at a young age of 19. She does remember as she was growing up how hard it was on her Mother to lose her son. The family has always been hurt about losing him. However, being proud of him for his bravery will always be remembered. My grandmother once opened up a chest where she kept his belongings. Being proud of her son, she showed me his purple heart, along with a a folded up American flag. There were also some letters he had wrote to her. She cherished everything in that chest. I asked her how she felt about him. She said that painful day she was notified will never go away. What touched me was even though it was many years later she contiued to hold him tight to her heart. I know that when she seen that chest in the closet, there was a memory in there....her sons purple heart. It is a treasure for the memory of Joe Belarde. I dont know to much about my Uncle Joe. I dont know what he liked such as hobbies. I dont know what his point of interests were. What I do know he was loved. To be loved and missed tells you he was a good person. With the circumstances of the war, he was buried in a foreign land in Italy. I wish I could of known my Uncle Joe. For some reason I feel I do. Pvt. Joe Belarde, you will never be forgotton.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ KIA...
KIA. Entered the service from Montrose, Colorado/
SERVICE # 37704391
STATE: Colorado
CASUALTY: 08-22-1944
WAR: World War II
SERVICE: Army
RANK: Private
UNIT: 85th Infantry Division, 338th Infantry Regiment.
BURIAL: Plot C Row 1 Grave 37, Florence American Cemetery, Florence, Italy
AWARDS:
★ Purple Heart
★ Combat Infantryman Badge
★ American Campaign Medal
★ World War II Victory Medal
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.
Joe Belarde was born to the parents Emelio and Pauline Belarde Rodrquez in Walsenburgh Colorado. He is the brother to his sisters Jennie Romero, Stella Ordenana, Marta Belarde, and Emily Duran. His brothers are Eddie and Leroy Belarde. Joe Belarde is my Uncle. The only living sibling is my Mother, Emily Duran. She was only six years old when he died in the line of duty in World War 11. So there is not to much she can remember about him. He died for his country at a young age of 19. She does remember as she was growing up how hard it was on her Mother to lose her son. The family has always been hurt about losing him. However, being proud of him for his bravery will always be remembered. My grandmother once opened up a chest where she kept his belongings. Being proud of her son, she showed me his purple heart, along with a a folded up American flag. There were also some letters he had wrote to her. She cherished everything in that chest. I asked her how she felt about him. She said that painful day she was notified will never go away. What touched me was even though it was many years later she contiued to hold him tight to her heart. I know that when she seen that chest in the closet, there was a memory in there....her sons purple heart. It is a treasure for the memory of Joe Belarde. I dont know to much about my Uncle Joe. I dont know what he liked such as hobbies. I dont know what his point of interests were. What I do know he was loved. To be loved and missed tells you he was a good person. With the circumstances of the war, he was buried in a foreign land in Italy. I wish I could of known my Uncle Joe. For some reason I feel I do. Pvt. Joe Belarde, you will never be forgotton.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ KIA...
SERVICE # 37704391
STATE: Colorado
CASUALTY: 08-22-1944
WAR: World War II
SERVICE: Army
RANK: Private
UNIT: 85th Infantry Division, 338th Infantry Regiment.
BURIAL: Plot C Row 1 Grave 37, Florence American Cemetery, Florence, Italy
AWARDS:
★ Purple Heart
★ Combat Infantryman Badge
★ American Campaign Medal
★ World War II Victory Medal
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.
Joe Belarde was born to the parents Emelio and Pauline Belarde Rodrquez in Walsenburgh Colorado. He is the brother to his sisters Jennie Romero, Stella Ordenana, Marta Belarde, and Emily Duran. His brothers are Eddie and Leroy Belarde. Joe Belarde is my Uncle. The only living sibling is my Mother, Emily Duran. She was only six years old when he died in the line of duty in World War 11. So there is not to much she can remember about him. He died for his country at a young age of 19. She does remember as she was growing up how hard it was on her Mother to lose her son. The family has always been hurt about losing him. However, being proud of him for his bravery will always be remembered. My grandmother once opened up a chest where she kept his belongings. Being proud of her son, she showed me his purple heart, along with a a folded up American flag. There were also some letters he had wrote to her. She cherished everything in that chest. I asked her how she felt about him. She said that painful day she was notified will never go away. What touched me was even though it was many years later she contiued to hold him tight to her heart. I know that when she seen that chest in the closet, there was a memory in there....her sons purple heart. It is a treasure for the memory of Joe Belarde. I dont know to much about my Uncle Joe. I dont know what he liked such as hobbies. I dont know what his point of interests were. What I do know he was loved. To be loved and missed tells you he was a good person. With the circumstances of the war, he was buried in a foreign land in Italy. I wish I could of known my Uncle Joe. For some reason I feel I do. Pvt. Joe Belarde, you will never be forgotton.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ KIA...
Inscription
~A Special thanks to a good friend of mine...Angela-Alissa's Mom for sponsoring my Uncle Joe's memorial. What a blessing this is.
Gravesite Details
Also, thanks to Kim Koper Davis for being a big part in this memorial .
