Michael Aloysious Bellizia was born December 1, 1921 in Hazleton, Pennsylvania to Mariano Bellizia (1892-1978) and Filomena Ferrari (1892-1927). He was the sixth of their nine children which included Josephine (1912-1976), Antonia (Dana) (1914-1995), Salvador (Sal) (1915-1981), Rocco (Rex) (1917-1989), Anthony (Ti) (1919-1989), Pasquale (1923-1986), Louis (1925-1986) and Lucille (1927-1927). His father came to the United States in 1909 from Italy and he married Philomena Ferrari on October 22, 1911 in Hazleton, Pennsylvania. His mom died just 10 days after giving birth to Lucille, his youngest sister, who died just a month later. Michael graduated from Hazleton High School in 1940.

Michael registered for the draft on February 16, 1942 in New Castle County, Delaware. He was 5'-9” tall and weighed 167 pounds with brown eyes and black hair. He was drafted into the service on October 21, 1942 through Camden, New Jersey with service number 32367449. He did his training at Camp Pickett, Virginia and while there was stricken with spinal meningitis. After recovering he rejoined his outfit and was on desert maneuvers in Arizona and California before returning to Camp Pickett. Pvt. Bellizia was with the 77th Infantry when it was sent to Hawaii in March 1944 and then Guam in the Pacific in late July 1944.

The fighting on Guam is well documented as is the valor of their Medical Detachment that treated wounded under fire, especially on Guam and later Okinawa. In early August 1944, Pvt. Bellizia's unit was involved in rescuing men during the fighting near the town of Barrigada. He was killed in action on August 2, 1944 while saving the life of a hometown friend, Lt. James Delmonico. His Silver Star citation reads:

On October 29, 1944, Army General Orders from the Headquarters of the 77th Infantry:

"gallantry in action on August 2, 1944. While administering to a wounded during an assault on the village of Barrigada, Guam, M.I. a Jap tank run through the company position, its machine guns causing many casualties. As he was attending to the newly injured despite heavy enemy fire, his platoon leader was seriously wounded in the leg and Private Gbellizia went to his aid. Just then the Jap tank turned around and began retracing its course, creating more destruction. As the tank neared them, Private Bellizia used his own body to shield the injured officer from the machine gun bullets. Still under heavy enemy automatic and sniper fire he then dressed the wounds and applied a splint to the leg. Because of the extreme danger to the officer, he began to evacuate him toe the rear. In his attempt Private Bellizia was mortally wounded.. His courage and self sacrifice succeeded in saving the wounded man's life and exemplifies the finest traditions of the Medical Department."

He was buried in the Armed Forces temporary cemetery on Guam. In February 1949 his body was returned home aboard the U.S. Army Transport Dalton Victory. On March 15, 1949 a military funeral was held and a high mass conducted at the Most Precious Blood Church for him. He was buried in the Most Precious Blood Cemetery, Hazleton, Pennsylvania.

Author's Note: There are some descrepencies in Michael's records. Some records have his enlistment date as Nov. 10, 1942 while his Headstone Application notes that date as Nov. 5, 1942. National Archive Date from College Park, Md. that has been uploaded to FOLD3 (Ancestry's Military Database) noted his enlistment date as October 21, 1942. Also, he is listed on the WWII Dead as from Oneida County, NY with a service number of 32267449. I can't make sense of this and it maybe in error. Not only is his service number incorrect, I found no evidence linking him to Oneida County, NY. According to National Archives Enlistment records, Michael was drafted into the service on November 21, 1942 through Camden, New Jersey. He was living on Broom St in Wilmington, Delaware at the time. Newspaper accounts of his death reported him entering the Army in November of 1943. His service number was 32367449 (some records indicate his service number was 32267449. This is incorrect) .

This story is part of the Stories Behind the Stars project. This is a national effort of volunteers to write the stories of all 421,000+ of the US WWII fallen on Together We Served and Fold3.

(Please see - http://www.storiesbehindthestars.org).

Can you help us write these stories? Together We Served and Fold3/Find A Grave have smartphone apps that will allow people to visit any war memorial or cemetery and read these stories of WWII fallen.

If you noticed anything erroneous in this profile or have additional information to contribute, please contact Jim Greenberg at jim.greenberg@oneonta.edu.

SBTSProject/New York/Oneida

Sources

Classified Advertising – Announcements – Deaths, Bellizia, Standard-Sentinel, Hazleton, PA., March 14, 1949, pg. 12.

Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/97591934/michael_aloysious-bellizia: accessed December 31, 2025), memorial page for PVT Michael Aloysious Bellizia (1 Dec 1921–2 Aug 1944), Find a Grave Memorial ID 97591934, citing Most Precious Blood Cemetery, Hazleton, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, USA; Maintained by Virginia (contributor 47379955).

"Michael Bellizia Dies of Wounds", Standard – Sentinel, Hazleton, PA. September 5, 1944, pg. 3

National Archives at Washington DC; Washington DC, USA; Applications for Headstones For U.S. Military Veterans, 1925-1941; NAID: 596118; Record Group Number: 92; Record Group Title: Records of the Office of the Quartermaster General

National Archives at St. Louis, MO; Series: Army General Orders; NAIA: 417265009; Record Group 64; Records of the National Archives and Records Administration; Fiche_950.

National Archives at St. Louis; St. Louis, Missouri; Wwii Draft Registration Cards For Delaware, 10/16/1940-03/31/1947; Record Group: Records of the Selective Service System, 147; Box: 4

National Archives at St. Louis, MO; Series: World War II Operational Reports; NAID: 403783158; Record Group: 407: Records of the Adjutant General's Office; 77th Infantry Division: 9-001 (1 of 2)

Pennsylvania (State). World War II Veterans Compensation Applications, circa 1950s. Records of the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, Record Group 19, Series 19.92 (877 cartons). Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission; Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; Pennsylvania Veterans Burial Cards, 1950-2010; Series Number: Series 4

"Remains of Vet to Arrive Monday", Standard-Sentinel, Hazleton, PA, March 11, 1949, pg. 2

"To Dedicated Honor Roll at Precious Blood on Sunday", Standard-Sentinel, Hazleton, PA., February 17, 1943, pg. 11.

"Two War Dead On Way to U.S.", Standard-Sentinel, Hazleton, PA., February 22, 1949, pg. 3.

Year: 1930; Census Place: Hazleton, Luzerne, Pennsylvania; Page: 14B; Enumeration District: 0081; FHL microfilm: 2341802

Supporting Documents

Following two images are the four pages from the 77th Infantry Division's History that summarize their actions around the days he was killed.