Iowa Old Press
Sioux City Journal, Monday, October 1, 1945
[Front Page Headline]
ROBERT BELLAIRE KILLED IN JAPAN
Noted Sioux City Newspaper Man ‘Accident’ Victim
Grim Message to His Parents Contains No Detail
Robert Bellaire, former Sioux Cityan who was United Press bureau manager in Tokyo at the time of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, has been killed in an accident in Tokyo, to which he recently returned as far eastern correspondent for Collier’s magazine. He was 31.
Word of the death was received Sunday night by the parents, Mr. and Mrs. Louis Bellaire, now of Bronxville, N.Y., according to an Associated Press dispatch early today. The parents, former well known Sioux Cityans, had no additional details on the death, the dispatch stated.
The widow is the former Mona Badgerow, daughter of the late E. M. Badgerow and Mrs. Badgerow, prominent Sioux Cityans. There are three children.
Mr. Bellaire was honored here at a civic “welcome home” luncheon in September, 1942, at the Mayfair hotel on his return from a Japanese internment camp between Tokyo and Yokohama where he spent six month.
He was born at LeMars, Ia. in 1914. The family moved to Sioux City, where Robert attended Central high school. He had the distinction of being the youngest person to be graduated from that school.
WORKED FOR PAPER HERE.
He worked his way through Columbia University, wrote freelance for the Baltimore Sun and Toronto Star, tutored English and assisted in the Columbia University department of government.
Mr. Bellaire returned to Sioux City and was employed a year in the advertising department of the old Sioux City Tribune, leaving there in 1936 for a trip around the world. He interrupted his travel in Shanghai to join the United Press, where he handled general news coverage until the outbreak of the Sino-Japanese war, when he was put in charge of the night desk and covered daytime news breaks.
In 1937 he moved to the city desk and in 1938 became Shanghai’s bureau manager, three years later becoming bureau manager in Tokyo.
While touring Chungking during Japanese air raids, Mr. Bellaire narrowly escaped death on two occasions. Once a 100-pound bomb crashed through a roof and fell only 20 feet from him, but it was a dud. Later a bomb wrecked part of the Cathay hotel, damaging a room in which the newsman was sleeping.
MARRIED IN TOKYO.
Mr. Bellaire married Miss Badgerow in 1937 in Tokyo. She returned to Sioux City in 1940, when women and children were being evacuated from China. Their second child was born here.
When Japan began its war against the United States, Mr. Bellaire was imprisoned. Once he and other newsmen were tortured for hours in order to induce them to write pro-Japanese statements.
He finally was included in the first prisoner exchange and disembarked at New York August 25 after a 70-day voyage on the Gripsholm.
While in Sioux City in 1942, he appeared before several large groups and later made an extensive lecture tour. He wrote several articles on his imprisonment, most of which appeared in Collier’s. In 1943, he joined the Blue network commentator staff and presented a weekly broadcast.
RANK EQUAL TO MAJOR.
Mr. Bellaire later was appointed far eastern editor for the U.P. in New York City, a position he held until his recent assignment as correspondent for Collier’s. His area included Japan, Korea, Manchuria, China, Indo-China, the Philippines, Thailand, Burma, Malaya, the Dutch East Indies and Australia.
He was in army uniform with an assigned rank equivalent to a major.
The Associated Press dispatch announcing Mr. Bellaire’s death came from New York at 1:58 o’clock this morning. It read as follows:
“New York.—(AP) –Robert Bellaire, far east correspondent for Collier’s magazine, died recently in an accident in Tokyo, his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Louis Bellaire of Bronxville, N.Y., said they had been informed Sunday night. The parents of the correspondent said they had no additional details on the death.”
[transcribed by L.Z., Apr 2020]
Sioux City Journal, October 2, 1945
ROBERT BELLAIRE
Death by accident, the details of which are not known as this is written, has ended the distinguished career in journalism of a LeMars and Sioux City young man, Robert Bellaire, who had just returned to Japan after an absence of some years. Thirty-one and with a promising future had he lived, his untimely death is a thing of sorrow and regret to those who knew him and had heard him on the platform and over the radio.
Mr. Bellaire lived in Sioux City and attended the public schools here. He was a graduate of Central high school. He grew up here from childhood. He was a bright student, was well liked and showed early promise of success. His newspaper career was somewhat meteoric. He made good in a way that impressed all who knew him. He went to the top very rapidly, made his position in the Fourth Estate secure by reasons of two things, ability and character.
Robert Bellaire was a journalist who was honest, truthful, sincere. He wanted facts, and his desire to know what those facts meant impelled him to study that he might understand both men and events. He did a good job of it, as Sioux City audiences came to know when he spoke here before clubs and told the story of Japan’s quest for power. He had a good platform presence and manner. It was a delight to hear him. His radio broadcasts were highly intelligent reports on conditions as he had seen them. The Fourth Estate lost one of the finest in the younger generation when “Bob” Bellaire died.
[transcribed by L.Z., Apr 2020]
Sioux City Journal
Sioux City, Woodbury co. Iowa
October 22, 1945
In Uniform
Paul P. Poskevich, gunner’s mate third class, naval reserve,
2420 Grand Avenue, arrived in New York aboard the U.S.S.
Foote for participation in the Navy day celebration. Gunner
Poskevich served 30 months on destroyer duty which took him
through fighting campaigns from Casablanca to the Solomons, from
Leyte to Okinawa.
Paul S. Rustwick, fireman first class, 910 S. Cornelia Street and
Keith H. Holloway, machinist’s mate third class, 2315 10th
street, served on the U.S.S. Cowpens, the first United
States aircraft carrier to enter Tokyo bay with the occupation
force.
Dorathie Jane Cotton, daughter of Mrs. Pearle I. Bradshaw, 309
28th street, was honorably discharge from the Waves October 19.
She was last on duty at the naval air station, Anacostia, D.C.
Chancey A. Dean, fireman first class, has arrived from San
Francisco where he received an honorable discharge from the navy.
He is with Mrs. Dean and their three children at their home, 209
Bluff Street. Mr. Dean served in the navy 19 months and was
awarded the Purple Heart for wounds received at Okinawa when a
Jap suicide plane hit his ship.
[transcribed by C.S., March 2015]