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OS3c James Curtis Bellamy
James Curtis Bellamy was an officer’s steward third class on the U.S.S. Arizona when he was killed in the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Dec. 7, 1941.
Mr. Bellamy was born Sept. 24, 1917, at Shallotte, a town of about 400 people in far southeast North Carolina. His father was Willie Bellamy and his mother Lula Bellamy.
The son attended school through 9th grade. He worked for a local farmer from Jan. 1, 1934, to Oct. 1, 1935, when he was discharged because there was no work. He applied to join the Navy that same month and enlisted on Feb. 4, 1936, at Raleigh, North Carolina.
He married Velma Ray Harris in January 1941 in Seattle, Washington. The battleship was berthed nearby at the Puget Sound Navy yard at the time undergoing retrofitting. They made their permanent home in Long Beach, California, adjacent to the ship’s home port at San Pedro.
As an officer’s steward, Mr. Bellamy was part of the Navy’s segregated mess attendant branch. Mess attendants were African-American or from the Philippines or Guam. They cooked, cleaned and performed other service tasks. Mess attendants could advance to become a steward or cook for officers, but that was their limit.
Sources: U.S. Veterans Administration; Navy enlistment records and muster roll; Washington marriage certificate. This profile was researched and written on behalf of the U.S.S. Arizona Mall Memorial at the University of Arizona.
NOTE: If you are a family member related to this crew member of the U.S.S. Arizona, or have additional information, pictures or documents to share about his life or service to our county please contact us through our FAMILY MEMBER SUBMISSION FORM.