Edward Allen “Ed” Bellis III was born on April 28, 1938. He, along with his four sisters, grew up in Mount Gayler, AR, where he developed a love for the outdoors and a strong work ethic. Much of this undoubtedly grew from 14-hour days working, in season, at his grandparents’ business. They had developed a day-trip location for tourists and locals that included a gift shop, café, and gas station. It also had a train that ran throughout the property. Fearing that the local school did not have a sufficiently rigorous math program, Ed’s parents decided to send him to Kemper Military School in Boonville, MO. There Ed developed a love for the military and excelled in all he did. He especially loved the rifle and honed his skill by shooting at grasshoppers. He, naturally, was on the rifle team and also led the silent drill platoon. His academic box was checked by graduating valedictorian of his class, thus making him an ideal candidate for the USMA Class of 1960. Senator Fulbright of Arkansas provided Ed’s ticket.
Ed had no problem with his new Highland home. His easy-going manner sat well with everyone. Having two upperclassmen from Arkansas in his company during plebe year probably did not hurt either. Four years as a member of the USMA Rifle Team was a given. Academic problems did not exist. Ed sailed through his four years, selected Signal Corps, and graduated with a strong belief in Duty, Honor, Country.
Ed’s transition into the real military began with three classmates, space-A transportation, one small bag, and Europe’s great outdoors. It was a great exercise in self-reliance and ingenuity that surely helped instill confidence in what lay ahead because it ended with his arriving at the Signal Officer Basic Course on time.
The Signal Officer Basic Course at Fort Monmouth, NJ was followed up at Fort Benning, GA with Jump School. Next, Ed got his “only” opportunity to fly across “the Pond” in order to report to an overseas assignment, the 304th Signal Battalion in Korea. DA felt justified in extending the tour to 16 months, but Ed took it in stride as he really liked the assignment. Ed then volunteered for Special Forces and went to Fort Bragg, NC for training. Next came the Signal Officer Advanced Course and a trip to Europe on the SS United States. The Berlin Brigade got Ed’s talents, first on the Signal staff and then as SGS. Ed then returned to CONUS and Fort Bragg to form and command the 327th Signal Company (Microwave/Topo) whose destination, via (surprise) the USNS Geiger, was Vietnam. West Point grabbed Ed after RVN, and he served as a tactical officer for Company D-2 and as a staff member. In 1973 Ed earned a MSEE at the University of Alabama. Next came Fort Huachuca, AZ and, in 1974, a move from the Regular Army into the U.S. Army Reserve.
Ed’s selection of Special Forces landed him more than just some new training at Fort Bragg—a Fayetteville school teacher by the name of Martha Whitlow. They were married over a weekend while he was in the career course at Monmouth and honeymooned on the ship to Europe.
Berlin was the birthplace of Edward Allen Bellis IV in 1965. Ed IV went on to graduate from NC State and get master’s degrees from Presbyterian School of Christian Education and Union Theological Seminary. He is now ministering at Cypress Lake Presbyterian Church in Fort Myers, FL. West Point brought Laura into the family in 1970. Laura earned a degree in business administration from East Carolina University and a master’s degree from Appalachian State University. She is currently a data analyst for Clinical Compliance and Regulatory Services at Wake Forest Baptist Health. Ed and Martha had two grandchildren, Jordan Bellis and Kara Bellis. Sadly, Martha contracted cancer and preceded Ed in death in 2019.
After leaving the Regular Army, Ed moved back to Arkansas and worked for the city of Fort Smith, AR as a building official and code enforcement superintendent. On weekends and Monday nights Ed taught for the Army Reserve and, in addition, completed CGSC by correspondence. In 1980 Ed became a Department of the Navy civilian plant engineer at the Naval Aviation Depot, MCAS, Cherry Point, NC. He retired from the Department of the Navy after 32 years of federal service as a GS-12. His reserve duties while at Cherry Point were at Fort Bragg in the 416th Facilities Engineer Command. Ed then transferred from Signal Corps to the Corps of Engineers because of increased advancement potential. He retired a full colonel, operations officer of the Theater Army Signal Command in Atlanta, GA.
Ed Bellis was a hard, dedicated worker as his accomplishments clearly show. His open-mindedness, tolerance, and downright grit were amply demonstrated in that, although being a West Point graduate and being given the unusual experience of sailing across both the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, he was still willing to join the Department of the Navy and stick with them for 32 years (although, to be completely fair, he did show a preference for air over sea and, perhaps, the Marines over the sailors).
After a brief illness, Ed died on July 17, 2021. His ashes were interred at his most favored location, West Point. In military terms “rest” is the highest state of relaxation in troop formations. Ed is now at rest. This is your reward, Ed; may you rest in peace.
— Ed Bellis IV, Laura Bellis, and “T” Eubanks