Michael Ray Beck

The database page for Michael Ray Beck

21 Sep 2001 Battalion Landing Team (BLT) 1/7 was supposed to land on 13 August 1965 but our mail address was "Marine 13" and the Colonel would not land a "Marine 13" on Friday the 13th so we went ashore on 14 August. Our designation was changed from BLT 1/7 to 1st Bn, 7th Marines, 4th Brigade, but we were then assigned to the 3rd Marine Division. SEMPER FIDELIS Mike Beck was one of eleven Charlie 1/7 Marines killed in action during Operation INDIANA. From a fellow 1/7 Marine. E-Mail may be forwarded via the Webmaster@VirtualWall.org

Mike... It has been a while since you left us but I still think of you .... You were a good friend and great athlete while we were in high school. When you left us I was in the Army training for Vietnam. I have gone to the Wall in Washington DC and have gotten your name and those of other friends we lost. I never met your parents and with all my sympathy we lost a great person. I miss you, Mike. John Pacheco ... a friend johnrpac@email.msn.com

05 Dec 2005 I spent several months with Mike in boot camp, ITR at Camp Pendleton, and in Charlie 1/7. He was a good guy and tough. I still have, and always will have, a picture of you, Dave Beachler and I in Tijuana. Miss you and always will, Marine. From a friend, boot camp partner, and fellow Marine, Keith Birkhofer P O Box 8, Winlock, Wa 98596 keithb@willapabay.org

30 May 2006 My dad was one of Mike's teachers in elementary school in Cheyenne, Wyoming. They had kept in touch through the years and when Mike went to war, my dad suggested that we write to him. I took this seriously. When any of us got mail from him, we read it around the dinner table. I was the last to write to him and when I got a response, I read it to everyone in my family. The next day, we found out that he had been killed. I remember that moment so clearly, like a knife in my heart! I think of him so very often, especially this time of year. Although I never met him, I have always felt close to him and am glad that I had the chance to talk to him. I never really knew what had happened to Mike, except that he died so very young. Thank you so very much for this site. It brings comfort to me today, the day after another Memorial Day, to know that others remember him. I would really have liked to have met him. From a friend, Paula Lindsey Zenick plindseymail@aol.com

A Note from The Virtual Wall Twelve Marines were killed in action on 28 March 1966 during Operation INDIANA when Charlie 1/7 assaulted an entrenched VC force in the Vinh Loc hamlet complex: G Btry, 3rd Bn, 11th Marines Pfc Edmund F. Eddy, Hartford, CT (Arty F/O team member attached to C/1/7) C Co, 1st Bn, 7th Marines SSgt John G. Bansavage, Amsterdam, NY Sgt Pedro Padilla, Albuquerque, NM Sgt Colon R. Rodriguez, New York, NY Cpl Richard L. Mayes, Sidney, MT Cpl John L. McCarty, Stockton, CA Pfc Michael R. Beck, Cheyenne, WY Pfc Paul E. Hassey, New Bedford, MA Pfc William F. Joyce, Hyde Park, MA Pfc Thomas McEntee, Philadelphia, PA Pfc Richard J. Preskenis, Hyde Park, MA Pfc Leroy E. Simons, Springfield, OH Initial casualty reports included ten of the above men - and Pfc Richard Joseph Preskenis. When that casualty was reported in his home town area in Massachusetts it caused a considerable shock to Richard Joseph Preskenis, who was very much alive and not at all a Marine. It developed that William F. Joyce, who had been rejected by his draft board, had adopted Preskenis's identify when he enlisted in the Marines in 1963. Joyce maintained the deception throughout his service in the Corps - and it might not have come to light had he survived his tour in Vietnam. VirtualWall Note: On arrival of the 1st Marine Division in Vietnam, the 7th Marines were reassigned to 1st MarDiv.

The point-of-contact for this memorial is a fellow 1/7 Marine. E-Mail may be forwarded via the Webmaster@VirtualWall.org

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With all respect
Jim Schueckler, former CW2, US Army
Ken Davis, Commander, United States Navy (Ret)
Memorial first published on 21 Sep 2001
Last updated 06/19/2006