William Raymond Bean Jr. (1943 - 2014)

Colonel Ray Bean Jr. was a Prisoner of War for 310 days during the Vietnam War.

Biography

Colonel Ray Bean Jr. served in the United States Air Force in the Vietnam War
Service started: Aug 1967
Unit(s): 8th Tactical Fighter Squadron; 435th Tactical Fighter Squadron
Service ended: Oct 1997

Birth

Col. William Raymond Bean Jr. was born on 1 September 1943 in Alexander City, Tallapoosa, Alabama, United States.^{[1] [2]}

Education

He attended high school in Wetumpka, Elmore, Alabama. Upon graduation he continued his education at Auburn University in Auburn, Lee, Alabama earning a degree in Agricultural Economics. He graduated in 1966.

Later in his career after returning from his assignment in England, he attended Armed Forces Staff College in Norfolk, Virginia from December 1978 to June 1979.

Military Service

After obtaining his university degree, Ray entered Officer Training School on 18 August 1967 and was commissioned 2nd Lieutenant in the United States Air Force at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Bexar, Texas on 17 November 1967. He attended pilot training from December 1967 until June 1968. In June 1968 he transferred to Undergraduate Navigator Training and earned his navigator wings at Mather Air Force Base, Sacramento County, California in September 1969. Next he was assigned to F-4 Phantom II Weapon Systems (WSO) Combat Crew Training before he served as an F-4 WSO with the 8th Tactical Fighter Squadron at Holloman Air Force Base near Alamogordo, Otero, New Mexico from March 1970 to July 1971.

In July 1971 Ray was deployed to the Ubon Royal Thai Air Base, Thailand with the 435th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 8th Tactical Fighter Wing, which was using the F-4D Phantom . He was forced to eject over North Vietnam on 23 May 1972.

Prisoner of War from 23 May 1972 to 28 March 1973.^[3]

After his release during Operation Homecoming, he was hospitalized briefly at Sheppard Air Force Base near Wichita Falls, Wichita Falls, Texas and then went to the 4485th Test Wing at Eglin Air Force Base near Valparaiso, Okaloosa, Florida where he served as a Test Project Officer from August 1973 to March 1974.

Ray completed Undergraduate Pilot Training as a Major in May 1975. Next he went to F-4 Combat Crew Training from May 1975 to April 1976. He was an F-4 pilot with the 91st Tactical Fighter Squadron at Royal Air Force Bentwaters, England from May 1976 to December 1978.

He returned from Staff College in June 1979 and completed Pilot Instructor Training, serving as an instructor pilot, Operations Officer and Commander of the 90th Flying Training Squadron of the 80th Flying Training Wing at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas from July 1979 to May 1983.

From May 1983 to July 1986, he went to Kolsas, Norway to serve as the Chief of the Offensive Air Operations Branch with Headquarters Allied Forces Northern Europe. From there he returned to the USA become a NATO instructor at Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C. until June 1988. He was the Assistant Deputy Commander for Operations and then Deputy Commander for Operations of the 71st Flying Training Wing at Vance Air Force Base in Enid, Garfield, Oklahoma from June 1988 to June 1990. From June 1990 to July 1991 he was at Reese Air Force Base, Lubbock County, Texas as the Commander of the 64th Air Base Group and Commander of the 64th Support Flying Training Wing.

Colonel Bean's last assignment from July 1991 until his retirement was as a Professor in the Department of Strategy, Doctrine and Air Power with the Air War College at Maxwell Air Force Base, Montgomery, Alabama.^[4]

Honors

His Distinguished Flying Cross Citation:

Captain William R. Bean, Jr., distinguished himself by extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as an F-4D Weapon Systems Officer in Southeast Asia on 6 May 1972. On that date, despite adverse weather conditions and extensive air defenses while flying as a night Forward Air Controller, Captain Bean located a large number of vehicles carrying military supplies for use by hostile forces. With complete disregard for his own personal safety and exhibiting superior airmanship, he was able to destroy these vital supplies thus significantly hindering the resupply of the invading hostile forces. The professional competence, aerial skill, and devotion to duty displayed by Captain Bean reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.

1. Legion of Merit Medal
2. Distinguished Flying Cross
3. Bronze Star with V Device
4. Purple Heart with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster
5. Defense Meritorious Service Medal
6. Meritorious Service Medal with 2 Oak leaf Clusters
7. Air Medal with 12 Oak Leaf Clusters
8. Air Medal with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster
9. Air Force Commendation with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster

The full ribbon set is available here.

Marriage

Ray married Mindy L. Rodgers (born 10 February 1951) on 14 February 1976 at Archer, Archer, Texas when he was 32 and she was 25. They had a daughter.^[5]

Later Life

Retirement from the United States Air Force

He retired on 1 October 1997.^[6]

After Retirement Activities

He enjoyed golf, football, travel, fishing and weekly Bible study. Ray also volunteered at the Montgomery Archives in his final years. ^[7]

Death and Burial

Colonel Bean died on 18 January 2014 at the age of 70 in Montgomery, Montgomery, Alabama, United States after a long battle with pancreatic cancer.^[8]He was buried in the Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Arlington, Virginia. ^{[9] [10]} Find A Grave: Memorial #123931599

Sources

• Vietnam War, Casualties Returned Alive, 1962-1979.
• NAM POW, Inc. The Association of Former Vietnam War POWs. [1]
• U.S. Public Records Index, 1950-1993, Volume 1. At 143 E. Fairview Avenue, Montgomery, Alabama in 1993.
• Find A Grave Index.
• Veteran Tributes. The entire tribute here.
• U.S. Public Records Index, 1950-1993, Volume 2. At Archer City, Texas. No Date.
• U.S. Cemetery and Funeral Home Collection.
• U.S. Social Security Death Index.
• Wyatt, Barbara Powers. We Came Home. Toluca Lake, CA: P.O.W. Publications, 1977. ^[11]

Footnotes

1. ↑ Vet Trib
2. ↑ Wyatt, BP
3. ↑ Vietnam War Casualties
4. ↑ Vet Trib
5. ↑ US Cem & Fun Home
6. ↑ Vet Trib
7. ↑ NAM POW
8. ↑ NAM POW
9. ↑ US Cem & Fun Home
10. ↑ Wyatt, BP
11. ↑ Wyatt, BP: A caution about this publication is needed. Many errors are recorded here including with the husband of the person who created this profile. The couple who wrote it did so with a great deal of respect and care, but as with any work of this size, there are errors. Double check with other sources.

Acknowledgements