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Fort Snelling National Cemetery
  B-1-422-S 

Born:  November 22, 1925 at Columbia Heights, MN

Entered Service in the US Marine Corps from Minnesota

Earned The Medal of Honor During World War II For heroism March 08, 1945 at Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands

Private First Class LaBelle gave his life in action against enemy Japanese forces during the seizure of Iwo Jima in the Volcano Islands. Filling a gap in the front lines during a critical phase of the battle, Private First Class LaBelle had dug into a foxhole with two other marines and, grimly aware of the enemy's persistent attempts to blast a way through our lines with hand grenades, applied himself with steady concentration to maintaining a sharply vigilant watch during the hazardous night hours. Suddenly a hostile grenade landed beyond reach in his foxhole. Quickly estimating the situation, he determined to save the others if possible, shouted a warning, and instantly dived on the deadly missile, absorbing the exploding charge in his own body and thereby protecting his comrades from serious injury. Stouthearted and indomitable, he had unhesitatingly relinquished his own chance of survival that his fellow marines might carry on the relentless fight against a fanatic enemy.