Dan Beam, U.S. Air Force

Military career of Dan Beam

When I was a Senior in High school I volunteered for the Air Force at the age of 17. I volunteered so as not to be drafted into the infantry upon turning 18. I graduated in January of 1945 and was inducted into the Air Force in March of ’45. My twin brother and I had our basic training at Shepherd Field in Wichita Falls, Texas. I remember Oklahoma blew into Texas in the morning, then Texas blew back into Oklahoma in the afternoon.

After basic training we were sent to Lowry Field in Denver for B-29 turret mechanics school. My twin brother and I stayed together throughout WWII. Last year, he went home to be with the Lord. We did not finish the B-¬29 school because Japan surrendered. We were then shipped to Williams Army Air Base after a 30 day leave. While at the air base my brother and I played football for the base team ... had a great time.

We went from there by troop ship to Japan. Three months later I reported to Ft. Benning, Ga. for company Officers school.

By the way, my brother did not finish his last year, so he was not commissioned and did not have to go to Korea. (I'm not sure I ever forgave him for that.)

After the Ft. Benning Company Officer school and a 30 day leave I left my little wife for Korea. By the way, I did have the opportunity to sing in the First Baptist Church choir of Columbus, Ga. We were flown to Japan, then by ship to Pusan, Korea. We then went by rail to Chunchon where I caught the infantry company in reserve. While in reserve we were selected to be a support unit for a Combat Engineer company that was to clear a path of mines so tanks could be moved up the next day. It was a night mission. There was so much magnetism in the rocks that the mine detectors were useless. So the engineers had to use their bayonets. They made so much noise that I was sure we would draw gunfire from the North Koreans. Fortunately, it didn't happen. However, the next night, "L" Company went out to the same area and was shot to pieces. Many were wounded and killed. Later the Company was moved to the front lines. I was on the front lines three days--long enough to earn the combat Infantry badge, then transferred back to the 35th combat Engineer battalion as Special Service Officer Liaison Officer. That was where I met Chaplain Heckard. I would go with him and conduct the song service for the line troops.

While in Korea, I went up into the hills one day and told the Lord if I returned safely, I would serve Him in some way. I lost several army buddies over there. One in particular, Lt. Jim Hefferon and his platoon sergeant were in a command bunker at the front lines when an enemy shell hit near and collapsed the bunker on them. The Lord had something else for me to do. I was fortunate. When I look back on my military career I realize that the Lord was leading me into full time service. It took a while for me to find my way.