Richard Joseph Belicose was born on March 30, 1945, in the Bronx Area Station Hospital, opposite Yankee Stadium in New York. Richard could not be delivered at Fort Jay Governor’s Island, which is where his parents lived at the time because many of the wounded World War II soldiers were being treated there. His home of record is Belford, NJ.

He was the son of the late Chief Warrant Officer Ralph Joseph Belicose (US Army Retired) and Lillian Catherine Belicose. Richard was one of eight children born to Ralph and Lillian. From oldest to youngest: Ralph, Jeannette, Richard, Raymond, Jacqueline, Robert, Ronald and Joanne. All of his brothers and sisters are married with families of their own.

He resided in Belford, NJ, attending Saint Mary’s Grammar School in New Monmouth and Red Bank Catholic High School. Richard was known for his playfulness within the family. He loved sports. He played basketball, baseball, football and lifted weights with friends in his backyard. He always enjoyed keeping his younger brothers and sisters entertained by building things for them to play with: go carts, snow mountains for downhill sleigh riding and giant igloos that were big enough to have bench seating for a half dozen adults. Lastly, Richard also loved to roller and ice skate.

Richard’s favorite foods were bacon, lettuce and tomato sandwiches, chicken, and fried scallops. Richard loved to read comics and he played the drums for the Middletown Coppertones Marching Band. He enjoyed building boats. He built a sixteen-foot speedboat. He owned a 1953 Plymouth and a 1957 Black Chevy convertible.

He served in the US Army where he attained the rank of Sergeant (SGT).

Belicose was killed in action on May 20, 1967, from wounds suffered from an artillery attack in Vietnam. He was 22 years old and was married briefly to a young woman named Sandy from Leonardo, New Jersey before he passed away. He is buried in Mount Olivet Cemetery in Middletown, NJ.

Sources: Monmouth University student, the Belicose Family, and NJVVMF.
12/17/2024