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World War II vet honored by France

Daily Iowegian - 6/14/2018

June 10--Edward Bellendier does not have too much to say about his time as a soldier during World War II.

"It was a real experience," said Ed, not elaborating on his time overseas. Most people would likely consider that an understatement.

Recently Ed was honored for that understated service by the French government. He is now a Chevalier or Knight in the National Order of the Legion of Honor. Created by Napoléon Bonaparte in 1802, the legion is the highest order of merit in France and can be presented to members of the military and civilians.

Non-French citizens can also receive the award. Non-French people who live in France must meet the same requirements as French citizens. The honor is also sometimes presented to foreign heads of state and monarchs. And American and British veterans who served on French soil in World War I or in the 1944 campaigns to liberate France during World War II are also eligible, but they must be living to receive it.

Ed is one of those veterans. The 92-year-old was born in Topeka, Kansas to immigrant parents and grew up in Iowa. He was a member of the 26th Infantry Division, also known as the Yankee Division and arrived in France in October 1944. According to his nephew, Don Bellendier, Ed was wounded at the end of November less than two months after arriving.

"I just about got killed," said Ed.

The Yankee Division went on to serve extensively in France and advanced into Germany, liberating the Gusen Concentration Camp before the end of the war. For his service, Ed received the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star.

After returning home, Ed moved to California, where he lived until three years ago when his nephews moved him into the Homestead in Centerville. They wanted him to be closer to family and one of his nephews, David, owns a home in Moravia.

Then about a year ago, Ed's nephews learned he was eligible to be accepted into the Legion of Honor. Someone from his VFW post in California told them about it, so they decided to apply. Don said they hoped that Ed could receive the honor, but since it takes a long time to process, he was a little worried. At the time Ed was already in his 90s.

"Even if you've applied, they won't award it posthumously," said Don. "It took a year for him to receive it after the application."

Ed said he wasn't surprised that he was awarded the honor, although he didn't think much about it while the wait was happening.

"I thought I earned the medal," said Ed. " ... [But] I just kind of forgot about it...and then it was a big surprise that I got it."

For now, Ed is keeping the medal in the box it arrived in. It's not hanging up like his other medals or his family pictures. His father served in France during World War I and a picture of he and his fellow soldiers hangs above Ed's bedroom door. Ed's Bronze Star and Purple Heart, along with the certificates he received with them are hanging in the living room.

"He used to talk a little about it," said Ed, referring to his father's military service. "That's what got me interested in the infantry."

Ed's nephew Don said that he hopes to set up a formal medal presentation ceremony for his uncle sometime in the near future.

"You can have a ceremony where someone can actually present [the medal] ... ," said Don. "According to the country of France, only a French citizen and representative can make an official presentation. It takes some sort of planning to get that done, but that's what I'm looking at."

Krystal Fowler can be reached at kfowler@dailyiowegian.com or by calling (641) 856-6336. Follow her on Twitter @KFowler_Daily.

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(c)2018 the Daily Iowegian (Centerville, Iowa)

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