210978 Sgt. James Henry Belter United States Army This is a brief story about my grandfather James Henry Belter during his service in WWII while at the Battle of Anzio in Italy. This information was passed down through other family members as he died of a massive heart attack in early August of 1968, which was just a bit over eight years before I was born.
Sometime during the Allied invasion at Anzio while in fierce battle, Sgt Belter was captured by the Germans and was briefly a prisoner in a marching line of other soldiers. His location in the line was at the very end where he walked alongside another American Army prisoner. A Nazi guard followed directly behind them on foot as well.
Apparently sensing an advantage at the end of this march, Sgt Belter and the other troop member made small talk taking note that the guard understood not a word of English. At this, they plotted an attack and escape where they were able to physically overcome the guard, beat and choke him to death, take his rifle and pistol and get away undetected by other guards further up the marching line.
Beyond this information I know little else and apparently grandpa Jim did not like to talk about his time fighting in the war. I did inherit the pistol he took off the guard which is a CZ Model 27 .32ACP caliber single action semi-auto handgun holding 10+1 rounds - including holster and additional magazine. The gun itself was a Czech made firearm with Nazi markings identifying it from the period of time Hitler had control of Czechoslovakia industries supplying the German war effort.
I keep one of his dog tags on a small tag chain attached to and hanging from the trigger guard. I would have loved to have known him in this world. But I know I will get to see him some day on the other side. Damn proud of what he did in fighting and surviving a very bad campaign during the war.
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