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15396 Beckner, Richard Gordon
May 23, 1924 - November 05, 1993

usma1946-D1

 

 MEMORIAL ARTICLE
Published Assembly May '96

Richard Gordon Beckner No.15396 Class of 1946
Died 5 November 1993 in Arlington, Virginia, aged 69 years. Interment: West Point Cemetery, West Point, New York.

Richard Gordon Beckner was born on 23 May 1924 in Centerville, Iowa, where he lived until entering Iowa State University in 1942. The following year he received his appointment and joined the Corps as a member of the Class of 1946.

His strong educational background permitted him to master the academics at West Point with ease and at the same time, allowed him to continue his high school interest in playing the drums as a member of the Cadet Orchestra.

Upon graduation in June 1946, he received his commission in Armor and, on 18 July 1946, he married Donna Ann Bressman, whom he had met at Iowa State. Following completion of the basic course in 1947, Dick was assigned to the 25th Squadron of the US Constabulary in Straubing, Germany, along the Czechoslovakian border.

Dick completed the advanced course in 1952 and was assigned as a graphics instructor in the Department of Military Topography and Graphics at West Point from 1952 to 1955. Dick had excelled in mechanical drawing both in high school and at West Point.

Learning that the Army had adopted a plan known as "Operation Gyroscope," to train and deploy units on a rotation basis to Germany, Dick volunteered to join the 3d Armored Division which was reactivated at Fort Knox in 1955. There he trained a tank company of the 32d Armor and deployed with it to Friedberg, Germany. Later he became the G-3 Training Officer, first with the 3d Armored Division and later with V Corps both in Frankfurt.

His assignment to the Command and General Staff College in 1959 was followed by three years on the faculty as an instructor in armor operations. He next studied Arabic and was sent to Saudi Arabia for a tour as G-3 Advisor to the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Defense and Aviation. In 1965 he joined the 2d Armored Division at Fort Hood, Texas, where he successively served as Executive Officer, Division Support Command, G-3 of the '"Hell on Wheels" Division and later, Commanding Officer, 1st Battalion, 67th Armor.

While attending the National War College in 1967-68, he also completed requirements for his master's degree in International Affairs from George Washington University.

He commanded the 1st Cavalry Division Support Command in Vietnam in 1969 and 1970.

His subsequent assignments were in the logistics career field, starting as Assistant and later Chief of the Far East Pacific Branch, ODSLOG. He was promoted to Brigadier General on 1 April 1973, but his brilliant career was cut short by a heart attack which forced his early retirement in June 1975. He was serving as Deputy Director of Logistics, Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff at the time.

Following his retirement, Dick accepted a position as Account Executive with Merrill Lynch. Although a newcomer, he soon was assigned the task of organizing a newly opened office. One of his new associates, a longtime account executive reported that Dick was the "most organized" person he had ever known.

After 10 years with Merrill Lynch and being named Vice President, Dick again retired to pursue his dream of traveling to "exotic" places. Indeed, he and Donna did travel extensively--from Alaska to Australia and many points in between. On one of their voyages, his congenial personality having been noted by the crew, Dick was asked to act as Santa Claus for the cruise. He and Donna were excellent bridge partners and often helped organize duplicate bridge tournaments for their traveling companions.

At home, Dick applied the same intensity to cultivating and caring for his lawn, trees, shrubs and roses that he had to his various military and civilian jobs.

He continued his voracious reading habit, started during his days at Centerville High School, and had the unique capacity to seemingly recall every word he had ever read.

Unfortunately, in the years following his retirement from Merrill Lynch, Dick was confronted by a series of health problems. While seemingly in good health in 1990, Dick insisted on having a chest X-ray in the course of his annual physical exam. It revealed lung cancer, and he underwent surgery. Medical tests at Johns Hopkins in May 1993 showed that the lung cancer had recurred. Then, in July, Dick suffered a stroke that left him blind and paralyzed on his left side.

Dick underwent extensive physical therapy and struggled valiantly with Donna's help to regain the use of his left arm and leg, but the loss of his sight and ability to read was devastating to his morale. Nevertheless, he was a model of courage. He never quit or gave up hope that, somehow or other, he would lick his afflictions. The combination of adverse medical factors, however, proved too great; Dick succumbed to lung cancer on 5 November 1993.

In retrospect, it can truly be said that Dick exemplified the best attributes of a West Pointer. He was animated by high ideals and loyal to his convictions. He was a man of great honor and a loyal and trustworthy friend.

Well done, Dick! Be thou at peace.

The above was written with the help of Dick's wife and his sister

Personal Eulogy

deceased

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