Abraham Belefant

Abraham Belefant’s Personal Narrative was derived from information found in public records, military personnel files, and local/state historical association materials. Please note that the Robb Centre never fully closes the book on our servicemembers; as new information becomes available, narratives will be updated to appropriately represent the life story of each veteran.

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Military Honor(s):

Distinguished Service Cross

Citation: The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Sergeant Abraham Belefant (ASN: 1703911), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Headquarters Company, 307th Infantry Regiment, 77th Division, A.E.F., near St. Pierremont, France, 4 November 1918. After passing through a heavily bombarded area, Sergeant Belefant learned that a soldier of his platoon had been wounded and had fallen in the shelled area. He at once volunteered and went back for him, assisted in bringing him to a place of safety, and later helped to carry him through another shelled area to the first-aid station.

Croix de Guerre with Silver Gilt Star

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Life & Service

  • Birth: 18 February 1890, Brooklyn, NY, United States
  • Place of Residence: Brooklyn, NY, United States
  • Race/Ethnicity: Jewish American
  • Death: 19 April 1961 Pinellas, FL, United States
  • Branch: Army
  • Military Rank: Sergeant
  • Company: [HQ]
  • Infantry Regiment: 307th
  • Division: 77th
Personal Narrative
Early Life (Pre-War): Includes general parent information, sibling information, education Toggle Accordion

Abraham Belefant was born to Mary Isaacson (1865-1924) and Samuel Belefant (1869-1894) on 18 February 1890 in Brooklyn, New York, the second of four children; Susan (1888-?), Benjamin (1892-1956), and Charles (1893-1957). Mary Belefant emigrated to the U.S. from Romania around 1887. Susan, Abraham, and Benjamin were all placed in the care of the Brooklyn Hebrew Orphan Asylum on December 7, 1894, presumably following the death of their father. Charles was a resident at the Kings County Hospital, Brooklyn, Kings, New York during this period. Susan Belefant was discharged in January of 1900 to the Children’s Aid Society of New York, but released by 1905; Abraham and Benjamin were discharged on 29 November 1903 back to their mother.

Into the 1910s, the family lived on Atlantic Avenue, Brooklyn, New York, where Mary Belefant worked as a midwife; by the 19-teens, residing at 511 Willoughby Ave., Brooklyn. Abraham Belefant worked as a United States Postal Service clerk at a location named Hudson Terrace.

Service: Includes a summary of transfers, rank change(s), training, enlistment, and discharge locations Toggle Accordion

Belefant was drafted and inducted into the U.S. Army on 19 September 1917 in New York City; he was assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 307th Infantry Regiment, 77th Division to his Discharge. Belefant was promoted to Private First Class on 1 February 1918, Corporal, 4 March, and Sergeant, 1 October. Cpl Belefant and HQ & HQ Co. left New York aboard the U.S. Army Transport Ship Justicia on 7 April 1918. Belefant received the Distinguished Service Cross for his actions on 4 November near St. Pierremont, France;

“The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Sergeant Abraham Belefant (ASN: 1703911), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Headquarters Company, 307th Infantry Regiment, 77th Division, A.E.F., near St. Pierremont, France, 4 November 1918. After passing through a heavily bombarded area, Sergeant Belefant learned that a soldier of his platoon had been wounded and had fallen in the shelled area. He at once volunteered and went back for him, assisted in bringing him to a place of safety, and later helped to carry him through another shelled area to the first-aid station.”

Belefant also received the French Croix de Guerre with Gilt Star, citation unknown, and the New York Conspicuous Service Cross. Sergeant Belefant returned to the United States from Brest, France via U.S. Army Transport Ship U.S.S. America on 19 April 1919. He was Honorably Discharged on 9 May.

Later Life (Post-War): Includes post-war education, occupation, marriage(s) and/or children, location and date of death Toggle Accordion

Upon his return home, Belefant continued to work for the USPS; he married Florence Jasper on 14 May 1920 in Brooklyn- the couple had their only child, Marion (1924-1974) on 18 August 1924. In the 1930s, the family lived at 1269 E. 18th Street in Brooklyn; the 1940s, 130-61 230th St., Rosedale, Queens, New York. Belefant was then with the Post Office on 33rd St., New York (now the James Farley Building), in the money order department.

After Florence Belefant’s death in 1951, Belefant remarried, to Mabel Carr (1900-1974), a teacher. By 1956, the couple lived in Pinellas County, Florida (8479 Tobay Rd. N), where Belefant died on 19 April 1961. He is buried at Memorial Park Cemetery in St. Petersburg.