Capt. James H. Hazelrigg Jr.

How this story crossed my path

During my search for marriages between our liberators and local girls, I came across the marriage certificate of Rosa De Belser and James Hazelrigg in the records of the municipality of Beerzel (Putte). From that moment on, I began searching for information about their lives. With the help of a local amateur historian, Raf Lambrechts, and Julia Dockx, the daughter of Rosa's best friend during World War II, I was able to reconstruct this story.

World War II War Brides

After the end of World War II the number of women from Europe and Asia who became war brides to American soldiers was estimated in the hundreds of thousands. So also Belgian women were not immune to the charm of the allied soldiers. Before the end of 1945 several were preparing to leave their homes and families to join their husbands in North America.

Rosa Antonia De Belser, born in Beerzel, Belgium on November 15, 1924 to Frans De Belser (clog maker) and Amelia Rijmenants (housewife) fell in love with James H. Hazelrigg Jr., a Captain with the 789th Anti-Aircraft Artillery AW Battalion, part of the defense of Antwerp in Operation Antwerp X.

Biography and Wartime Service

James Herbert Hazelrigg was born on May 12,1920 in Winchester, Illinois. He entered the service (#36310659) on January 12, 1942 in Camp Grant Illinois. He took his basic training with the 472nd Separate Coast Artillery Battalion at Camp Stewart, Georgia. After completing OCS James Hazelrigg was discharged as an Enlisted Men and upon receiving his comission assigned a new officers serial number (#O-1055614). On February 1, 1944 he was promoted to 1st Lt. while stationed at Richmond Air Base. He later went overseas with the 789th AAA Aw Battalion. The men of B Battery, 789th AAA AW Bn. were stationed at the Sollevelden in Beerzel, Belgium, from October 31 to November 24, 1944.

James Hazelrigg married Rosa De Belser in Beerzel, Belgium on June 28, 1945. In July 1947, Rosa traveled with KLM Royal Dutch Airlines from Amsterdam to New York. They had two children together, Ronald 'Ron' Hazelrigg and Linda Hazelrigg Standridge. Rosa and James were divorced on May 31, 1960, in Pulaski, Arkansas, after 14 years of marriage. From another relationship, she also inherited two sons and three daughters.

James H. Hazelrigg died on May 27, 2001, in Decatur, Alabama, at the age of 81, and was buried there. Rosa 'Granny' Ruscilli of Decatur, passed away February 3, 2015, at her residence in Decatur, Alabama, at the age of 90, and was also buried there. She was a homemaker and loved working in her yard, growing beautiful flowers, cooking and spending time with her grandchildren.

Gallery

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