18 Apr 2002 For every thing there is an appointed time; And there is a time for every purpose under the heavens. A time to laugh, a time to weep; A time for peace, and a time for war. A time to be born and a time to die ... -- Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 -- Some people live an entire lifetime and wonder if they have ever made a difference in the world... but the Marines don't have that problem. -- Ronald Reagan, 1985 -- From his niece, Shawna Rudersmith 142 Marsden Avenue, Sw, Canton, Oh 44710-1136 shawna011@yahoo.com 02 Sep 2003 On August 30, 2003, I traveled to Florence, Kentucky, to visit the Moving Wall. This particular day, you will note, is of significance because it was the 35th anniversary of my Uncle Buddy's death in Vietnam. While there (and receiving the best of care, not only from the volunteer citizens but also the veterans who were guarding the Wall later that night), I made a rubbing, and decided to add it to my uncle's page. With love, Shawna

 

19 Apr 2002 To My Brother, My Hero, My Protector Gone, but Never, Ever Forgotten. My Daughter Shawna, named after you (in Gaelic). My Son John, named after you in memory. Missed deeply, heart and soul, now and always. Semper Fi, Sarge Sis Judi Rudersmith judir@sssnet.com We would like to hear from anyone who served with John Robert Beck in Vietnam or elsewhere.

 

A Note from The Virtual Wall The Headquarters and Maintenance Squadron 17 Command Chronology for August 1968 contains the following entry: "30 AUG 68. At 0730 Capt Jones, CWO Vick, and Sgt Beck responded to an urgent request from Special Forces to render safe and recover a 122mm rocket which had impacted within the Special Forces Camp at Ha Thanh, located 25km west of Quang Ni [sic, "Ngai"] in Southern I Corps. Capt Jones, CWO Vick, and Sgt Beck arrived at the Special Forces Camp via chopper at 1035. They walked uphill to S-3 Operations, entered operations shack, and were receiving verbal instructions on the location of the dud round, when at 1040 an incoming 122mm made a direct hit on the shack. Capt Jones, CWO Vick, Sgt Beck and a Special Forces Sgt, and Civilian Interpreter were KIA and 5 WIA from this one round." The account is incorrect in one aspect: two Special Forces soldiers were killed by the incoming rocket. The five Americans were H&MS-17, MWSG-17: Capt James W. Jones, Hawthorne, CA CWO3 William L. Vick, Paducah, KY Sgt John R. Beck, Goshen, NY DET A-104 (HA THANH): MSG Tadeusz Sosniak, Burlington, ON, B Co, 5th SF Group PFC Richard E. Traster, McMinnville, OR, C Co, 5th SF Group

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