A Place of Honor and Remembrance In the Home of the Brave
Belleville, New Jersey
Rene Flory Jr. |
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Cpl. R. J. Flory Killed In Korean War Belleville Youth Was Altar Boy (June 22, 1951) -- Mr. and Mrs. Rene J. Flory of Center Street, Belleville, received by mail last week a letter from their son Rene J. Flory, Jr., from Korea in which he said "Mother, I know you have been plenty worried since I've been over here, but believe me, now the worst is over." Yesterday afternoon, the Florys received a telegram from the War Department which said, in part, "Deeply regret to inform you that your son, Corporal Rene Joseph Flory, Jr., USMC was killed in action, June 9 in the Korean Area in performance of his duty and service of his country." The letter received before the telegram was dated Korea, June 6 and was from a rest camp area. In the letter he described conditions in the camp and his chief concern was whether his pants would dry. The youthful soldier was born in Newark but had resided in Belleville for 11 years. He attended Belleville Schools and before graduation from Belleville High School three years ago was president of the Student Council and a member of the National Honor Society. He also served as an altar boy at the Holy Family Church for ten years before he was called into service with the Seventh Regiment of the First Marine Division, with other youths from this area who were members of the Marine Reserves training at Dover. He was sworn into Federal service on September 7th, last year, came home on furlough and reached Korea in April. At one period, when the United States forces were having a rough time in Korea, he saw 56 days of continuous action in the front lines. - Nutley Sun
Rene Joseph Flory, Jr.
Belleville reopens shrineA monument honoring Rene Flory, a Belleville High School graduate who was killed in the Korean War on June 9, 1951, will be rededicated during a Veterans Day ceremony at School 7 today (Nov. 11, 1999) at 11:30 a.m. Erected in 1952, the plaque and stone on the Joralemon Street side of the school had become overgrown , with shrubbery. The growth was cut down and the area was cleaned up recently on the recommendation of Schools Superintendent Joseph Ciccone. The Disabled American Veterans of Belleville and the board of education will take part in the rededication ceremony, which is open to the public.
In Memory OfSgt. Rene Flory Jr. USMCBorn February 27, 1931Died in Service of His CountryIn the Battlefield of KoreaJune 9, 1951And All Other Sons of BellevilleWho Made The Supreme Sacrifice
Photos taken Nov. 11, 2003 by Anthony Buccino
Belleville renews Korea vet memorial
Rene Flory Remembered
I went to high School with Rene Flory. In almost every class we
sat together because of the way the teacher arranged the seating. I
still think of him fondly and am still saddened at the fact that he
was killed in that war. It just seemed that he had a very fine
future ahead of him. I still often pray for him and his family as
well. I'm glad that I found him honored in this memorial, but wish
it had been that he never had the need to be honored in this way.
What I remember most about Rene was his constant smiling and politeness. At the beginning of my freshman year, my father passed away. Rene was always supportive and found ways to make me either smile or laugh. He kept himself involved in school projects and we often worked together on many of them. It was never a boyfriend/girlfriend relationship; just a good friend relationship. I don't know the details of his passing other than that it was during the Korean War, but he certainly has found a place in heaven. I look forward to meeting him there again.
Emily Armstrong (Beck)
December 2007
Sources The Star Ledger, November 11, 1999. Belleville Times:
"Belleville folks hear son killed in Korean action" June 21, 1951, p.1
Nutley Sun: "Cpl. R. J. Flory Killed June 6 In Korean War" June 22, 1951
We gratefully acknowledge the cooperation of: American Battle Monuments Commission The Belleville Times The Belleville Public Library The Nutley Sun The Star Ledger
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