Born to 26 year old Hallie Johnson, an unmarried laundry worker from Kentucky (her second child), Ernest was originally named Roy Thomas Johnson. Left in the care of the Nashville Maternity Hospital by his mother "for the purpose of securing for him a good home", the boy was placed in the care of Joseph and Margaret (Matthews) Belk on 11 May 1925. On 27 August 1925, the Belk's formally adopted the boy and changed his name to Ernest Everett Belk.

A veteran of both the European and Pacific Theaters during WW II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War, Ernest Belk retired from the US Navy as a highly decorated Senior Master Chief. He survived the near sinking of the famous USS Laffey during the Battle of Okinawa on 16 April 1945 (see www.laffey.org).

He was the husband of Nettie Lounsbury Miller Belk (1921-2010).

Refer to www.millerinfo.net/genealogy.

See also:

http://laffey.org/htcm_ernest_e_belk_navy_record.htm

Born to 26 year old Hallie Johnson, an unmarried laundry worker from Kentucky (her second child), Ernest was originally named Roy Thomas Johnson. Left in the care of the Nashville Maternity Hospital by his mother "for the purpose of securing for him a good home", the boy was placed in the care of Joseph and Margaret (Matthews) Belk on 11 May 1925. On 27 August 1925, the Belk's formally adopted the boy and changed his name to Ernest Everett Belk.

A veteran of both the European and Pacific Theaters during WW II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War, Ernest Belk retired from the US Navy as a highly decorated Senior Master Chief. He survived the near sinking of the famous USS Laffey during the Battle of Okinawa on 16 April 1945 (see www.laffey.org).

He was the husband of Nettie Lounsbury Miller Belk (1921-2010).

Refer to www.millerinfo.net/genealogy.

See also:

http://laffey.org/htcm_ernest_e_belk_navy_record.htm