Belman Honored for Service
Eighty years prior to this presentation, Joseph Belman,100, of Joliet was assigned to the 305th Bomb Group as a ball turret gunner aboard the B-17 Flying Fortress.
During his 35 missions, which included the Battle of the Bulge, there was no mission quite like the one that by fate, his life was spared.
After fighting in the skies above Nazi occupied Germany, his crew flew back to their airfield in England. Prior to debriefing, he reached into his flight jacket pocket to retrieve the orange he had taken with him only to discover this orange had saved his life.
With the B-17 having taken a hit from a German Flak (Flugabwehrkanone), a piece of shrapnel tore through the side of the aircraft, thus penetrating through the pocket of his flight jacket and lodged within the orange.
Having earned the rank of Staff Sergeant, he received among his accolades for bravery and valor: 5 Oak Clusters to the Air Medal, 3 Battle Stars to the European Ribbon and Distinguished Unit Citations.
The Joliet American Legion Band took the opportunity to pay tribute for his service during their recent performance at Bicentennial Park.
Joseph was escorted front and center by color guard Navy Veteran Veronica Konow and was met in unison by the band’s highly decorated Army Major Richard S. Ellenberger (Retired). Upon the conclusion of the acknowledgement reading by emcee Gary Picha, a plaque consisting of a collection of WWII coins and stamps was presented followed by a standing ovation by all in attendance.