Courtesy of the Night Stalkers
STAFF SERGEANT BRADLEY C. BEEM
16 MAY 1967 – 7 MARCH 1996
Staff Sergeant Bradley C. Beem died during service with the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne) at Fort Campbell, Kentucky.
SSG Beem was born in Waverly, Iowa on 16 May 1967. He graduated from Waverly-Shell Rock High School in 1985.
Enlisting in 1985, he served as an infantryman during tours in Korea and Fort Polk, Louisiana. In 1989 he became a CH-47 crewchief and served with the 228th Aviation Regiment in Panama.
SSG Beem joined the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne) in 1993, serving as an Instructor Trainer and Close Quarters Combat Instructor for the Special Operations Aviation Training Company. He served in B Company, 2nd Battalion, 160th SOAR(A) since May 1995.
On 7 March 1996, he was promoted to Staff Sergeant and awarded the Meritorious Service Medal. His numerous other awards include the Army Commendation Medal (second award), Army Achievement Medal (fourth award), National Defense Service Medal, the Good Conduct Medal, the Overseas Service Ribbon (second award), the NCO Professional Development Ribbon, the Army Service Ribbon, Air Crewmember Badge, and Parachute Badge.
He is survived by his wife, Yvonne M. (Henkle) Beem; his son, Trevor Jack Beem; his parents, Jack C. Beem and Carol Heckman, of Shell Rock, Iowa; his sister, Susanne Beem, of Shell Rock, Iowa; and his brothers, Richard Beem, of Shell Rock, Iowa; Tim Heckman, of Scott Air Force Base, Illinois; and Tom Heckman of St. Paul, Minnesota.
Michael Robert Patterson was born in Arlington and is the son of a former officer of the US Army. So it was no wonder that sooner or later his interests drew him to American history and especially to American military history. Many of his articles can be found on renowned portals like the New York Times, Washingtonpost or Wikipedia.
Reviewed by: Michael Howard