I saw a listing in the local paper called “Honor Our Veterans,” and I am hoping that I can honor my father and at few other local World War II vets that I know very well.
First of all is my father, Chief Petty Officer James R. Belcher. He served in the U.S. Navy in World War II, Korea and Vietnam, 1944-1946 then 1950-1969. Dad was a survivor of the sinking of the heavy cruiser USS Indianapolis CA-35, the ship that delivered the atomic bomb to Tinian and the Enola Gay. He served in the Korean War on several ships operating out of Japan, and again on the USS Taluga fleet oiler and the repair ship USS Delta during the Vietnam War.
He lived here in Waynesboro after he retired from the Navy, until his passing on May 3, 2001. Dad, I thank you for your service to our country, and I miss you every single day for the past 10 years. You are my hero.
I would like to thank Steward 2c Bob Pinkerton U.S. Navy, who served as cook on the USS Sea Cat SS-399 during World War II. Bob was a former general manager of the General Wayne Hotel many years ago, and he passed away in 2010.
He and his daughter told me (the week before he passed) that his greatest single contribution in WW2 was at Saipan when they were tied up at the docks there for two weeks near the very end of the war. Although the island was secured of Japanese soldiers, there were many Saipanese orphans hiding in the jungle, starving, who could not be rounded up. At night, these children would rummage through the rotted trash at the end of the piers, only to be run off by the sentries or Marines. It hurt his heart to see these children starving and suffering, so for the two weeks they were there, he loaded empty ammunition boxes with good food from the Sea Cat galley and put them out by the dump just before dark, then told the Marines to let the kids “steal” the boxes.
He said that was his single most memorable contribution during World War II.
I would like to thank Sgt George Fox of Waynesboro, who served in the U.S. Army in World War II in the 29th Division, 116th Infantry and landed at Omaha Beach on D-Day driving an armored half track. Sgt Fox was seriously wounded within seconds of hitting the beach, but after a brief trip to the hospital, returned to Omaha Beach and eventually to Germany itself.
I would also like to thank Major Byrd Rawlings III, who served in the U.S. Army in North Africa and Italy campaigns during World War II, and was later called up for the Korean War as well.
During World War II, Byrd served in the 90th Coastal Anti-Aircraft Artillery among other units, and he currently lives in Waynesboro at age 92. He is a Virginia Tech graduate and proud Hokie!
And I would especially like to thank First Sgt Dick Foster of Waynesboro, who served in the U.S. Army 1st and 3rd Divisions in North Africa, Italy and all the way to Germany during World War II. Dick served in the 68th and 93rd Armored Field Artillery units, and I had the privilege to interview him at his home for the Veteran’s History Project this past week to preserved his stories. Dick has terminal cancer and is not going to see another Veteran’s Day. He is 91 years old and will turn 92 on Dec. 19.
Please keep all these men in your prayers.
Submission by Jim Belcher/Waynesboro, Va.
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