Justus Belfield; Last salute
Adirondack Patriot sends us a link to the story of World War II veteran Justus Belfield’s last salute;
The proud 98-year-old was too weak to leave his bed at Baptist Health Nursing and Rehabilitation Center for the nursing home’s veterans’ parade and luncheon, but there was no doubt he was there in spirit.
In honor of the day, he asked to be dressed in his olive green Army uniform, which he’d worn for every patriotic occasion since he and his wife, Lillian, moved to Baptist several years ago.
[…]
“I could see him breathing and I leaned down and I looked at him and I said, ‘Happy Veterans Day. Thank you for your service,’” [Christine Camp] recalled.
In response, he gave a slow but strong salute.
According to staff at Baptist, Belfield died early Wednesday morning.
[…]
He told The Gazette last fall that he had no regrets about the sacrifices he made for his country.
“It was a good thing to do. I loved it because it was my country. It’s still my country,” he said in November of 2013. “I don’t like the president. I don’t like the way he handles things, but it’s still the United States. It’s still my country.”
Category: Real Soldiers
There are times when a post on TAH is so poignant that there are no words to be said,
This is one of those post.
My respect and condolences go out to that family of this patriot.
↑↑↑↑↑ A few likes for your post,E4Y. Well said.
Faithful to the end.
Well done, Master Sergeant Belfield. Rest in peace.
Hondo…What you said. Thank you.
It’s MY country.
Too bad too many politicians have forgotten that, and too many of her citizens don’t give a shit enough to take it back.
From the Linked Article:
Two Patriot Guard members who had become friends with Belfield visited with him on his final Veterans Day. One draped a flag over the armoire in his room. When the veterans’ parade came down the hall Tuesday afternoon, the participants stopped and looked in on their fellow soldier. After the festivities, Camp helped Belfield remove his Army jacket and he spoke to her.“He says, ‘I’ve gotta go,’ and I said, ‘Where do you have to go?’ and he says, ‘Home,’” Camp recounted with tears in her eyes. “And I said, ‘It’s OK, Jay. You’ve had a long journey. Close your eyes. Go home.’”
Damn! It just got dusty here.
RIP MSG Belfield. You more than earned your ticket for your trip “home”.
Master Sergeant Belfield: Rest in Peace, you have earned it.
RIP. Thanks for everything Top.
Semper Fidelis.
AP. I hope you’ve been well. I have missed you around here, but I see that you are still on duty in your northern post. Thanks.
Rest in Peace, Warrior. We are better for having had you in our midst.
I wish our politicians and more citizens were like him. Rest In Peace Our Brother In Arms.
Oh, my. The allergies have kicked in big time around here today.
Rest now in peace, and join your fellow warriors. You did your part.
Too much dust in this room, today, dammit.
RIP, Master Sergeant, you’ve earned it.
It’s a little dusty in here….
Rest in Peace, Brother
Rest in peace, Top, god knows you earned yourself a rest.
And people wonder why we do it.
RIP Master Sergeant; you truly are an American Soldier.
Another reminder that Semper Fidelis isn’t just a Marine thing nor is it just a slogan.
Rest in Peace, Soldier.
For the record, 98 year old Justus Belfield gave his last salute, perfectly!
For every POS poser who reads this, almost ALL of you can’t offer a salute that wouldn’t get your ass handed to you by any officer. Much less one as well executed as a 98 year old soldier on his death bed! Hang your sorry heads in shame!
Noticed that too. …and with his last dying breath, rendered an appropriate salute, and went home. Semper-Fi, MSgt Justus Belfield. Semper-Fi.
Fiddler’s Green has a new resident. RIP Master Sergeant.
Indeed, nbcguy54, it does. I poked around the net figuring that there must be more about him to be found and there is. He wrote a very short synopsis of his life. “At age 19 I enlisted in the Cavalry, Troop “A” 121st Cavalry. I was the troop bugular and was discharged, honorably in 1940 after 5 years of service. I played TAPs many times at lights out and later in the American Legion in the Bugle Band over several who returned from Viet Nam.” He was true Cav. “I loved the Cavalry but when they took the horses away in 1940 I took discharge.” But he returned for WW II and–get this–describes his ENTIRE war experience thusly: “Spent 1945 in Europe, France and Belgium. Discharged in jan 1946.” He was an E-7. He joined the reserves, went active for the Berlin Airlift, and went RA again in 1949. He served as a recruiter in Syracuse but seeing the names of those he recruited listed among the Fallen on Korean War casualty lists fairly overwhelmed him. He was a helluva trooper and Fiddler’s Green has a fine, new bugler in Justus (Jay) Belfield.
Outstanding! A crisp uniform and a smart salute right up to the end.
May you rest in eternal peace, MSG Belfield. You certainly earned it.
Fair winds and following seas, Master Sergeant Belfield. Welcome home.
Dang. Another WWII vet goes Home.
Grace and Peace upon all those left behind who cared about you.
See you in a while, Brother.
Thank you for your service. Rest in peace, brother. Hooah!