Bellew, Michael F.X., CDR

Passed away on active duty, U.S. Naval Hospital St. Albans, NY July 1969.

Graduated from Fordham University and received Masters degree from Colombia University.Commissioned Directly in 1942. Served as a Line Officer in destroyers in Med & Pacific. Ship hit by Kamikaze off Okinawa, spent time at Naval Hospital San Diego. Transferred from Line to Supply Corps after the war. Served aboard USS Coasters Harbor (AG-74) at Operation Crossroads A-bomb test at Bikini Atoll. He was later determined to have developed pancreatic cancer due to radiation at Bikini. He died on active duty in 1969 while stationed at NAS Kingsville, TX His widow, my mother, was awarded a settlement from DOD over 20 yrs. later.
Cdr. Bellew was awarded the Royal Order of Phoenix by the Greek government for his assistance to Greece during their civil war 1946-1949. The medal was held by the Dept. of State, and not released to his family until after his death,  for reasons unknown.He served as liason officer to foreign navies while stationed in Washington, D.C.
Cdr. Bellew served in Turkey 1955-1958 as an advisor to the Turkish Navy. He authored two books in the Turkish language while stationed at the submarine base in Golcuk, Turkey. He was also stationed at Sigonella, Sicily.