Service:  ARMY
Component:  ACTIVE DUTY
Name:  BELLARD, WILFRED DAVYRUSSELL
Rank:  PFC
Pay Grade:  E03
Date of Death:  2003/04/04
Age:  20
Gender:  MALE
Home of Record City:  LAKE CHARLES
Home of Record State:  LA
Home of Record Country:  US
Unit:  BATTERY C 1ST BATTALION 41ST FIELD ARTILLERY, FORT STEWART, GEORGIA 31314
Incident Geographic Code:  IZ
Casualty Geographic Code:  IZ
Casualty Country:  IRAQ

Burial Location:
Combre Memorial Park
Lake Charles, Louisiana

Obituary:
Army Pfc. Wilfred D. Bellard was proud to be in the military and ready to fight in Iraq. Bellard, 20, died April 4 when the vehicle he was riding in fell into a ravine. He had graduated from high school in Georgia. Before that, he lived in Lake Charles, La., attending Lake Charles-Boston High School. “My son was proud of his job in the military,” said his mother, Janet Brooks. “He told me he loved it and was ready to go to Iraq and get the job done. To me, my son is a hero.” He is survived by a wife Latricia, and a young son.

News:

April 16, 2003 – Reported by Erica Young & Rhonda Kitchens

The War in Iraq hit close to home Thursday as a Lake Charles soldier is laid to rest.

Lake Charles Mayor Randy Roach asks the Lake Area community to fly their flags at half staff all day Thursday in honor of Private First Class Wilfred Bellard. The Lake Charles native was killed earlier this month in Iraq when the vehicle he was riding in fell into a ravine. Bellard was with the 41st Field Artillery Regiment out of Fort Stewart, Georgia.

Friends and family paid their respects to the fallen hero Thursday at Mount Zion Baptist Church. Hundred of lake area residents and elected leaders were in attendance at the funeral.

Bellard received proclamations from the floors of both the Louisiana State House and Senate.

Bellard is survived by his pregnant wife, Letricia, and their one-year old son. Mayor Roach presented his family with a proclamation Wednesday morning. Roach proclaimed Thursday, April 17th “Private First Class Wilfred Bellard Day.” (KPLC)