Donald Saunders - March 4

Another Belleville Son

Dies in Vietnam Battle

(March 14, 1968) -- "Since he had to leave this world, I'm glad he left it the way he did, with courage and fighting for his country."

There was little else for William D. Saunders of High Street, Belleville, to say. He is the father of Pfc. Donald Saunders who was killed in action in Vietnam March 4, 1968.

The young Saunders, only 20, died of wounds on his head and body from an enemy mortar fire in Quang Tri last week.

Saunders enlisted in the Marines two years ago on Sept. 28. It was a day that William Saunders will never forget as it was the elder Saunders' birthday.

Donald completed his basic training at Parris Island, S.C., and advanced infantry training at Camp Lejeune, N.C. He volunteered for duty in Vietnam.

When asked why, Mrs. Maisie Saunders, his mother, said, "Donald was never too talkative. He made his own decisions. I think he felt the boys were doing a good job and he should back them up."

"It was just a job that had to be done, for him," added Saunders, and he never complained. In all his letters there was never a word of complaint. He tried to reassure us, in fact."

The Belleville Times, March 14, 1968

8th Anniversary edition of Honor Roll paperback now on Amazon

The 8th anniversary edition of BELLEVILLE SONS HONOR ROLL Remembering the Men Who Paid For Our Freedom by Anthony Buccino includes additional information on Belleville in the American Revolution, War of 1812, Civil War, more photos of town's WWI casualties, WWW II, Korean War - including Medal of Honor recipient Henry Svehlo, Vietnam War and peacetime casualties including our last soldier Donald Murray killed in 1996. 


In the last century, Belleville lost 157 sons while in service to our country. This collection, gathered from newspaper clippings and other sources collects what we know about these young men in an effort that their sacrifice not be forgotten.


Belleville Sons Honor Roll paperback edition now available on Amazon.com
$19/.99 ++

An earlier version appears on Kindle.
$2.99

Belleville 'Red Tail' pilot lost over Germany

(Jan. 18, 1945) -- Flight Officer Leonard R. Willette, 22, was declared killed in action this week. Willette had been listed as missing in action since Sept. 22. He is the son of Newark Police Lt. and Mrs. Lawrence Willette, of Stephens Street, Belleville.

The young man enlisted in the Army Air Corps while a student at New York University. He entered the service from New Jersey. He refused an appointment by the late Senator Barbour to West Point in order to get into active combat more quickly. Willette received his wings in February 1944, at Tuskegee Army Air Field, Ala.

He was a P-51 Mustang pilot based in Italy with the famed 99th Fighter Squadron, 322nd Fighter Group, under command of Col. Benjamin O. Davis.

Belleville: The War Between The States

Home-made cannon for ceremonial salute to Belleville soldiers.

Each year, the tradition in Belleville is to gather on July 4th morning and read the names of our Second River forefathers who fought in the American Revolution.

Nearly 70 Belleville veterans of that war are buried in the Dutch Reformed Church cemetery. Their names are listed on plates. We read their names aloud in a solemn ceremony.

The men named on these plaques risked everything to provide freedom for those of us who stand here today. When the men of Belleville rose up against England, it was no sure thing that the colonies would prevail but more than likely that the revolutionaries and their leaders might hang.

Less than one hundred years later, our country was torn apart by the War Between the States. The story of the war is taught in eighth grade history classes in town. But little is known or taught about the men of Belleville who fought and the half-dozen who died in that war.

Belleville and Nutley In the Civil War, a new book

Cherry Blossom Press publishes a new reference book,  Belleville and Nutley In the Civil War, a Brief History by Anthony Buccino.

The book is a compilation of information documenting the participation of the New Jersey towns of Belleville and Nutley in the American Civil War. Publication includes information on six local soldiers killed in action in the War Between the states, plus information on the battle campaigns in which they gave up their lives. Also lists information on participation in various New Jersey and other state militias by local men.


The new book is available in print and on the Kindle eReader.
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