Michael Ray Beck (1947 - 1966)

Born 24 Feb 1947 in Cheyenne, Laramie County, Wyoming, USA

Died 28 Mar 1966 at age 19 in Quảng Ngãi, Quảng Ngãi, Vietnam

Biography

Michael Beck was awarded the Purple Heart.

Michael Beck is a Military Veteran.
Served in the United States Marine Corps
PFC Infantry, KIA in Vietnam

PFC Michael Beck was killed in action during the Vietnam War.

PFC Michael Beck served in the United States Marine Corps in the Vietnam War
Service started:
Unit(s): =C Co.,1st Bn, 7th Marine Regiment; 1st Marine Division, III MAF
Service ended:

Parents: Weston Clifford Beck 1907–1979 Helen Berniece Ray Beck 1927–2001

Siblings: Mary Lee Beck Bechtholdt 1949–2003

Half Siblings: Gregory Thomas Beck 1927–1956

Michael the son of Weston C. Beck and Helen B. Beck of Cheyenne WY enlisted in the US Marine Corps on August 12, 1965 in Denver CO. Arriving in Vietnam he was assigned to duty with Company C, 1st Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st MARDIV (Rein) FMF.

By 1700H operation Indiana was underway, three Companies of the 1st Battalion, were heli-lifted from Chu Lai and landed in the designated Landing Zones without incident. Company C, one of the first on the ground moved out towards its designated blocking position.

Moving forward in the brush covered terrain the lead platoon made a navigational error, marching further north than their destination which lead them right into the middle of a VC encampment located in the village of Vinh Loc. No sooner had the men approached the edge of the village through an open rice paddy when the VC sprung their ambush and took the lead platoon under heavy machine-gun and automatic weapons fire from well concealed positions. The Marines were pinned down in the open and unable to advance forward. The first platoon moved to envelop the right flank and relieve the pressure on their fellow Marines who had sustained numerous casualties and were unable to extract themselves due to the heavy enemy fire and any advance stalled by the enemy.

The second platoon, held in reserve in the initial assault was committed to the attack joining the third; again the attack was stalled due to heavy automatic weapons fire from a determined enemy force that would not yield any ground. Marines fought hand-to-hand, one Marine attacked a 12.7mm anti-aircraft machine gun bunker which had been cutting his friends down in the open. Artillery and air strikes struck the hamlet of Vinh Loc, but the enemy would not let up with its withering fire. With the onset of dusk the first platoon was ordered to withdraw, the VC made a concentrated effort to cover the Marine dead and wounded with intensive fire. The men managed to withdraw from the battlefield and set up a perimeter with all their wounded, although seven who had been killed in the action had to be left behind until daylight.

As was the case in most battles the VC withdrew their able bodied men, their wounded, and some of their dead during the night. At first light the Marines were ordered to enter the battlefield and recover their dead transporting them back to Chu Lai.

The battle had been costly for the men of Company C, over forty men were wounds and ten of their comrades were dead, among them PFC Beck who had sustained multiple enemy gunshot wounds.

Sources

Semper Fi Brother! Sgt R.C. Floyd, (Floyd-1923)

• www.virtualwall.org
• 1st Battalion 7th Marines Association and the1/7 Marines Vietnam Memorial, Marine Corps Museum, Quantico, Virginia, USA
• National Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Washington, D.C, USA
• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/60518549/michael-ray-beck: accessed 30 December 2023), memorial page for PFC Michael Ray Beck (24 Feb 1947–28 Mar 1966), Find a Grave Memorial ID 60518549, citing Cheyenne Memorial Gardens, Cheyenne, Laramie County, Wyoming, USA; Maintained by Victor Vilionis (contributor 47207612).
• http://wygenweb.com/laramie/vietnamwarcas.htm