In 2008, WWII highly decorated First Lt. George Balthazor died alone, an “unclaimed indigent” in San Diego, CA. Through the research efforts of a nephew and records found on the Social Security Death Index, Balthazor’s story is told and a military memorial service is held in his honor. See the full details in this story at FDLReporter.com.
FdL World War II hero will get military memorial service
Air Force First Lt. George Balthazor made quite the dashing figure in his World War II bomber jacket, his hair swept back to one side.
Surviving 32 missions while piloting a B-17 named “Flutterby” over enemy territory earned him membership in the elite “Lucky Bastard Club” of the 487th Bombardment Group, the group nicknamed “The Gentlemen from Hell.”
His medals and awards, among them the “Distinguished Flying Cross,” were numerous.
Some 64 years later, George died alone in San Diego, Calif., an “unclaimed indigent.” His ashes were scattered at sea without a military funeral.
The memory of George’s meritorious service to his country may have also remained lost had it not been for two nephews who never gave up looking for their “nomadic” uncle, last seen by his Fond du
Lac family sometime in the mid 1970s.“As a child I recall him staying at my grandmother’s house after the war, and he taught me how to tell time. I would hear him in the middle of the night screaming from night terrors,” said George’s nephew, Frank Balthazor of Madison.
On and off through the years Frank and another nephew, Steve Balthazor of West Bend, tried searching for George, pouring over names, places and military records found on the Internet.
Then one day in August 2010 Steve came across his uncle’s name listed in the Social Security death index. He discovered George had died in July 2008, at the age of 86.