By Thomas Graning

The Natchez Democrat

NATCHEZ — When Joe Belling was discharged from the Navy in 1963, the Natchez resident had no clue what benefits he was entitled to as a veteran.

“When I was discharged, that was it,” Belling said. “I was down here one year on a vacation, and my wife’s cousin, who is also a veterans, asked me if I had my VA card for my benefits. And I really didn’t know what he was talking about.”

Now, 40 years later, Belling is hoping to help other veterans avoid that same dilemma.

“I would like to make more veterans aware of what the VA can do for them,” Belling said.

Belling is the new director of veterans’ services for Adams County. Belling took over on June 23 for Vivian Toussaint, who left to attend seminary out of state.

Belling joined the Navy in 1960 and was stationed at Naval Air Station Jacksonville where he served as a jet engine mechanic. He and a chief petty officer built a testing facility to test engines leaving the assembly shop.

“At the time, I guess we were in demand with that test cell and testing engines,” Belling said. “Normally in the Navy, every two years you get changed duties. You’re normally assigned to a ship if you hadn’t been on one. But they kept me there the whole time until my discharge.”

While in Jacksonville, Belling met Wanda Stogner, a Natchez native and his future wife. Belling married Stogner while still in the Navy, and was later discharged after three and a half years of service.

“My discharge date was the day President Kennedy was assassinated,” Belling said. “They, of course, froze everybody getting discharged so they could investigate. So I got out about a week or two later.”

The Bellings returned to New Jersey after the discharge. He began a career with John Hancock Financial Services.

“I still have all my licenses, series 7s, stock broker’s licenses and everything,” Belling said.

After retiring, the couple decided to return to Natchez, where their only son was a police officer.

“What was the sense in staying up north when our one child is down here and my wife is from here?” Belling said. “I had purchased a home (in Natchez) in 1999. So we decided to move back down and be with our son.”

Belling was reading the newspaper one day when he came across an ad for a new director of veterans’ services.

“I said, ‘Gee, I wonder if that will go hand in hand with what I’m doing and helping veterans,’” Belling said. “So I applied.”

Belling was selected by the Adams County Board of Supervisors from the 11 applicants, and hired June 16.

Belling said he hopes to use his financial background to help local veterans.

“As a financial expert, I know that would go hand in hand with veterans making decisions,” Belling said.

Overall, Belling wants to make sure Adams County veterans are getting the help they need.

“Whatever I can do to help veterans is what I want to do,” Belling said. “I would bend over backwards to help anybody with the need they might have.”

Belling will continue to run the office on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. The office will be moving soon to a new location in the Natchez Senior Complex.