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MEMORIAL ARTICLE
Published Assembly May '91
Rex Webb Beasley, Jr. No.15565 Class of 1946
Died 21 December 1969 in Princeton, New Jersey, aged 64 years.
Cremated, ashes were scattered.
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Rex Webb Beasley, Jr. was born at Fort Sill, Oklahoma,
25 April 1925. The son of Major General Rex Beasley and Elinor
Leonard Beasley, Rex grew up in the Army with his sister Martha,
who was born at West Point during their father's tour in the
Tactical Department.
Rex always knew he was going to West Point. Neither
he nor his father ever considered anything else. He went to Episcopal
High School in Alexandria. He left EHS for Sullivan's in Washington,
DC to prep for the West Point entrance exams. He received a presidential
appointment in 1943.
Three years later Rex graduated from the Academy
in the Class of 1946. He followed his father's footsteps into
the Field Artillery. In May 1947 be married Constance Hallowell.
Their son, Rex III, was born in Yokohama, Japan in July 1949
while they were on occupation duty. Linda was born two years
later at Fort Bragg, North Carolina while Rex was with Army Field
Forces Board #1. A second daughter, Becky Lynn, was born 30 December
1953 in St. Louis, Missouri while Rex was in Korea.
He used to say that the Army had been very good
to him. His tours were challenging and interesting. But there
were two assignments that he particularly appreciated. In 1953
he went to the Math Department at West Point. Rex always worked
hard, but the long hours of preparation to teach the cadets never
seemed to bother him. His fourth year at West Point, he became
an assistant professor and directed the Advanced Mathematics
Program for the freshman class.
This was followed by three years at CINCPAC in
Hawaii. Then it was back to Fort Sill to command the 18th Artillery
Battalion and later the 214th Artillery Group.
In 1967 he had that second special assignment.
He was selected for the National War College at Fort McNair in
Washington, DC. Here he experienced a very unique learning atmosphere--a
knowledge of international government and a wonderful association
of people. During this year of study he also earned a master's
degree in international affairs from George Washington University.
In July 1968 he took command of the 1st Infantry
Division Artillery in Vietnam. Next came a tour of duty in the
Pentagon, followed by a final assignment at SHAPE in Belgium.
In July 1975 he retired from the Army and built
a lakeshore home near Fredericksburg, Virginia, where he lived
until his passing.
Rex's decorations included the Distinguished Flying
Cross, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star with Combat V, the Air Medal
with 14 Oak Leaf Clusters, and Cross of Gallantry with Gold Star
from the Republic of Vietnam.
Rex had the highest sense of honesty and integrity.
Much of this came from the values his father taught him, who
was also a West Point graduate--Class of 1917. Rex's years at
the Academy reinforced the standards his father had set. Along
with his confident ability, Rex expressed a great sense of humility.
He had a sincere and deep love of God. He took all his problems
to the Father in prayer.
Retirement for Rex was just the beginning of a
new opportunity to serve his church and his fellow man. He became
a Christian Science practitioner. In 1985 he was appointed to
the Christian Science Board of Lectureship. For four years he
and his wife, Connie, traveled all over the world. At the invitation
of the Christian Science branch churches Rex lectured to the
public on Christian Science and the healing ministry that Jesus
taught.
Rex was a loyal and dedicated officer. He served
his country because he loved it. Rex nurtured and cared for his
wife and children in the most supportive and loving way. This
love will always be with his family and continues to strengthen
them. We leave him safe in God's care, continuing his work in
the Father's vineyard. For those who knew him, the world was
a better place because he was here.
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