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He was an immigrant who ended up fighting in the bloodiest American battle of World War II and was one of the few members of his unit to survive. A man short in stature but large in personality, he lived a long, happy life with his family after retiring from his much-decorated service.
John Paul Bellefontaine of Leesburg, Fla., died May 28, just one day before Memorial Day. He was 98 years old and believed to be one of the last two living members of his unit. Bellefontaine wanted to be a pilot but, at around 5 feet tall, he was disqualified from pilot training. He instead enlisted in the U.S. Army, training to become a paratrooper, and was assigned to the 551st Parachute Infantry Battalion.
On April 21, 1944, Bellefontaine began a 33-day voyage to Italy aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, which came under assault from German bomber planes.
That August, the 551st participated in Operation Dragoon, the Allied landing in southeastern France, eventually liberating the city of Nice. Due to his upbringing in Montreal, French was Bellefontaine’s first language, so he was made a translator for American forces while in France and Belgium.
John Paul Bellefontaine of Leesburg, Fla., died May 28, just one day before Memorial Day. He was 98 years old and believed to be one of the last two living members of his unit. Bellefontaine wanted to be a pilot but, at around 5 feet tall, he was disqualified from pilot training. He instead enlisted in the U.S. Army, training to become a paratrooper, and was assigned to the 551st Parachute Infantry Battalion.
On April 21, 1944, Bellefontaine began a 33-day voyage to Italy aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, which came under assault from German bomber planes.
That August, the 551st participated in Operation Dragoon, the Allied landing in southeastern France, eventually liberating the city of Nice. Due to his upbringing in Montreal, French was Bellefontaine’s first language, so he was made a translator for American forces while in France and Belgium.
wwii-veteran-dies-at-98-10385279.html
Posted from stripes.com
WWII World War Two
Death
American History
Military History
France
Edited >1 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 3
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My salute to this man for His Military service. My own Father, ET1 David R. McCarter, USN, a WWII Veteran in the Pacific at age 97 died on 12 May 2023, just before Memorial day also. He served on both Destroyers and Minesweepers. Dad remained there for the occupation of Japan and later served during the Korean War. He had seen Hiroshima if the aftermath of the Atomic bomb dropping. He was also an member of the American Legion Post 208, Millis, MA, where I was also a member and the week prior to his passing had, as usual attended the Veteran's coffee social we held every Thursday morning, year round at the post.
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Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. May his soul and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.
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