Posted on 11/14/2014 1:34:46 PM PST by DFG
On Veterans Day, Justus Belfield donned his Army uniform one more time, even though he was too weak to leave his bed at an upstate New York nursing home.
The 98-year-old World War II veteran died the next day.
The Daily Gazette of Schenectady reports that Belfield had worn his uniform every Veterans Day since he and his wife moved into Baptist Health Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Glenville, outside Albany, several years ago.
On Tuesday, the former master sergeant wasn't able to get out of bed to participate in the facility's Veterans Day festivities, so he had the staff dress him in his uniform.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
oh... I JUST realized this man was from my neck of the woods - his funeral was this morning. I would surely have attended if I had known.
What a guy... God bless him in Heaven.
Please indulge me in posting his obituary. Donations to the Hudson Mohawk Humane Society are requested in lieu of;, and I can attest to the HMHS worthiness. I donate to them monthly, anyway.
Obituary:
Justus R.
Belfield
SCOTIA, NY
Justus R. Belfield, 98, of the Baptist Health Nursing and Rehab Center in Scotia, went home to be with Jesus on Wednesday, November 12, 2014. Born in Utica, NY, he was the son of the late Arthur and Phoebe Stadt Belfield.
At age 19, he enlisted in the National Guard and served in Troop A as a bugler, rifleman, machine gunner and horse handler from 1936 to 1940, leaving when they removed the horses from service.
He enlisted in the US Army in 1943, serving in the 923rd Heavy Automotive Maintenance Co. and the 22nd Armored Division in Belgium and France during WW II, and was honorably discharged as a Master Sgt. in 1946.
He also served in the US Army during the Korean War in the 1202nd Army Security Unit and the US Army Reserves, being finally discharged in April of 1963 as a Warrant Officer, W1.
Following the service, Mr. Belfield worked as a Quality Control Inspector, retiring from General Dynamics in Rochester,
NY. He is survived by his wife of 72 years, Lillian Bugbee Belfield; a son, Raymond (Sharyn) Belfield, of Whitesboro; five daughters, Pamela (James) Allbright, of Albany, Linda (Paul) Castilla and Ramona (Robert) Stubbs, both of Glenmont, Nola (James) Monohan, of Manlius, NY, and Holly (Gary) Morris, of Fanwood, NJ; 18 grandchildren; 26 great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.
He was predeceased by a beloved grandson, Jason Allbright.
Friends are invited and may attend the military graveside service at the Gerald B.H. Solomon Saratoga National Cemetery, 200 Duell Rd., Schuylerville, NY 12871 on Friday morning, November 14th, at 10 a.m. sharp.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be sent to the Mohawk-Hudson Humane Society, 3 Oakland Avenue, Menands, NY 12204.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Morris-Stebbins-Miner & Sanvidge Funeral Home, 312 Hoosick Street, Troy, NY 12180. Phone: (518) 272-3930 or 272-5802. - See more at:
I’m a Boomer, so I grew up with WW2 vets in my family, my friend’s families, they were everywhere.
Hard working people. Solid people.
Let’s hope their example will give us the courage to save our nation in this perilous time.
Each generation has its test. Theirs was bigger than most.
But ours is here. We have to make sure the light of liberty and freedom is not extinguished, even by our own countrymen.
Yeah...same here.
Thank you, DFG!
Ma, would you please PING The Canteen and issue a hanky alert!
BTT!
Wife of 72 years— that’s not something you often see. RIP Master Sergeant.
California had a Pearl Harbor vet die, in uniform, on Veterans days just hours before participating in the parade. This was in Petaluma, CA.
Thanks for your service to this great country and God rest your soul.
me too
Aww. Even the title is heartrending, Sis!
RIP
WWII was fought in shirtsleeves and jackets.
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God rest this hero’s soul....
Hankie Alert!!!!
WWII Vet, 98, dons uniform for final salute before dying the next day
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3227092/posts
Bittersweet.
RIP
Master Sergeant Justus Belfield, USA
You better believe I saluted that guy just now. Wow.
You noticed that too.
God Bless Him...RIP.
Love it-GOD BLESS HIM.
Faithful to the end.
We have a patriot in a nursing home and a traitor in the White House.
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