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Issue No. 63 | Summer 2022 |
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AMEDD MUSEUM FOUNDATION
MONITOR
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Message from the Chairman of the Board |
Dear Members and Friends of the AMEDD Museum,
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Welcome to the Summer 2022 edition of your Monitor. We are delighted to welcome a brand new Foundation Intern and a long serving volunteer to their new roles. SSG (Ret) Elizabeth A. Smith, Army Laboratory Technician, has shouldered responsibility for the Foundation’s Volunteer Program, and is seeking a few good men and women willing to share their experiences and love of the AMEDD with Museum visitors. Ms. Maya Kainth, Intern for the Summer of 2022, will be focusing on social media and marketing support as she gains experience in the broader Museum field. We look forward to great accomplishments from both.
On another note, we are saddened to report the recent loss of LTG Quinn Becker, and COL Beverly Greenlee Davis and her husband Bob Davis. Included here are excerpts of the eulogy presented by Colonel (Ret.) Jim Van Stratten on the occasion of the Celebration of the Life of LTG Becker. “He was a very kind man. He loved people and they loved him in return. He never met a stranger. Enlisted men and women loved him, as did non-commissioned officers, officers, and warrant officers.
He had a ready smile and a kind word for everyone, military and civilian alike. He was a people person with a big heart. His human kindness provided a model for all of us. He will be greatly missed.” Finally, Colonel Beverly Greenlee Davis, ANC passed away on 25 February and Bob Davis, her husband of 27 years, followed her on 4 March. Bev was a Vietnam era veteran who saw service in Thailand. Following her long and successful career in the Army Nurse Corps, including assignments at Fort Benning, Georgia and Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Bev continued to contribute to the AMEDD as a loyal member and President of the Army Nurse Corps Association. Beginning in 2003 she served as the Museum Foundation Board Secretary and then, from 2010 to 2013, as President, recruiting Bob to focus his effort on the Buildings and Grounds committee. Both Bev and Bob are remembered as kind, generous, quiet, unassuming and loyal friends. We are thankful for the caring service rendered, each in their own way, by these dedicated members of the AMEDD family. May they all rest in peace.
Happily, we are in need of more willing volunteers to help with all aspects of the museum because visit traffic has increased substantially. Volunteers make our Museum come alive. Special thanks to the NCO Academy students and Scout Troop who provided significant time and muscle to improve the landscaping and exterior appearance of the museum. It looks fabulous! Also, thanks to our other dedicated volunteers particularly those conducting museum tours for our student Medics, who, by the way, continually surprise us all with their generosity. Thank you all for your continuing support of our AMEDD, the Foundation, and the Museum.
- - BG (Ret) Daniel F. Perugini - Chairman of the Board
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This month we feature Elizabeth Smith, a volunteer coordinator at the musiq. |
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Monitor: Tell us a little about yourself - where were you raised, where were you/what have you done before arriving at the museum?
ES: I was born in Indiana and raised with two brothers on a farm. As I grew up, my mother became ill while I was in middle and high school. She was in three different hospitals and a nursing home before passing away. Visiting her almost every day sparked my interest in nursing. When I was unable to pay tuition for my second year of nursing school, I joined the US Army to get the GI Bill in 1974. Unfortunately, the Army was full of nurses at that time so I was offered a position as a Laboratory Technician, a Military Occupational Specialty which had just opened for females. I met my husband at Fort Sam Houston, Texas when we both attended medical training at the Academy of Health Sciences. We have 3 wonderful children (two daughters and a son) and travelled with them all over the United States from post to post. We returned to Fort Sam Houston in 1994.
Monitor: How did you find the museum?
ES: I got involved at the Museum through my husband. He went in on weekends as a docent to give tours to future Combat Medics. I joined him and performed administrative duties including answering phone inquiries and greeting visitors. Currently, I'm working on expanding our volunteer program and to get these wonderful volunteers recognized for their dedication to the AMEDD Museum. Monitor: What is your favorite exhibit? ES: That is hard to decide because I love it all, but I guess I'd have to say my favorite is the evac helicopter pavilion. It reminds me of the time when I was assigned to C Company, 25th Medical Battalion and we trained with the 68th Med Evacuation (Aviation) loading patients. It was scary but it was fun!
Monitor: What is your favorite exhibit?
ES: That is hard to decide because I love it all, but I guess I'd have to say my favorite is the evac helicopter pavilion. It reminds me of the time when I was assigned to C Company, 25th Medical Battalion and we trained with the 68th Med Evacuation (Aviation) loading patients. It was scary but it was fun!
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AMEDD Museum Foundation Summer Intern |
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Maya is a rising Junior at Byron P. Steele II High School. She was first introduced to the AMEDD Museum Foundation in February 2022 during our Art Show for Cole High School Students. She expressed an interest in wanting to learn more about the museum field and what all is involved in working with and for a museum. She is interning with Courtney Knapp, the Development Manager, to gain exposure to the broad spectrum of museum work. Her projects will be primarily focusing on social media and marketing support, gaining experience in writing about museums, artifacts, and conducting historical research. We asked Maya a few questions to learn more about her:
Monitor: What are you most excited to work on this summer?
I am excited to work on future eNews articles about the history of the Medical With Gratitude Department.
Monitor: What do you like to do in your free time? What is your favorite sport and athlete?
When I'm not working I enjoy reading and swimming. My favorite sport is dance, and Misty Copeland is one of my favorite dancers. Monitor: What is a fun fact about you? One fun fact about me is that I've been doing ballet for 5 1/2 years, and I was a part of a competitive dance team for one year.
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Early this spring, the Foundation sadly noted the passing of COL (Ret) Beverly Greenlee Davis and her husband Bob Davis within weeks of each other. Bob served on the Buildings and Grounds committee and Bev started as Board Secretary in 2003 and later as President as from 2010- 2013. From Sue McMasters, Foundation administrative assistant, “Bev was the one who trained me and gave me the instructions when I started. Those instructions didn't begin to cover the job, so Paulette Hutchins and I wrote out everything that needed to be taken care of and kept those at the desk for referral. So, it told me just how much Bev was actually doing.....! Bev did beautiful crafts work. Every once in a while, I would be on the receiving end of one of her gifts (I LOVED those moments!)". |
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Farewell Surgeon General Quinn Becker |
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Recently the AMEDD lost two retired Vietnam veterans. They both served and were recognized in very different ways. LTG Quinn H. Becker was the 36th Surgeon General of the Army (1985-1988), and served in Vietnam (1970-1971) with the 85th Evacuation Hospital and the 15th Medical Battalion, 1st Cavalry Division. Medal of Honor recipient SGT Gary B. Beikirch served in the Army four years (1967-1971) and joined Special Forces expressly for the purpose of going to Vietnam. Although seemingly different, their exemplary service demonstrates shared concern for providing care. - - Mr Andy Watson, AMEDD Regimental Historian |
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Quinn H. Becker (1930-2022) was born in Kirksville, Missouri. His father died when he was fourteen years old, and Quinn often worked to help support his family. From his early days he would be a hands-on person that would step in to get things done. (Author’s note: In his eighties, LTG (Ret) Becker had loaded his car down with material for the museum. He then unloaded it at the museum and would not hear of us helping to lift items). From https://www.porterloring.com/ obituaries/obituary-listings?obId=24314934, we are fortunate to be able to share more information on LTG Becker: He attended Northeast Louisiana State College in Monroe, where he met and married his wife Gladys Marie Roussell. He enrolled in the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) and initially majored in agriculture. His science professor recognized his competence and guided him to change his major and pursue medicine. Quinn graduated from college in 1952, as a Distinguished Military Graduate. He was initially commissioned a Regular Army 2LT in the Military Police but deferred from active duty to attend Louisiana State University Medical School in New Orleans as the Army had a shortage of doctors. Quinn graduated from LSU Medical School in 1956 and then completed his internship at Tripler Army Hospital in Hawaii, followed by an Army sponsored orthopedic residency at Confederate Memorial Hospital, Shreveport, Louisiana.
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LTG Becker served as an orthopedic surgeon at Fort Gordon, Georgia and Fort Rucker Alabama. In 1964, he moved to Heidelberg, Germany where he commanded the 5th Surgical Hospital (Mobile Army). Later he moved to Wurzburg, Germany as the 3rd Infantry Division Surgeon and then chief of orthopedic surgery at the 33rd Field Hospital. After returning from Germany in 1967, LTG Becker served as the assistant chief of orthopedics at Walter Reed General Hospital. Following completion of the Armed Forces Staff College in 1970, LTG Becker deployed to Vietnam.
His initial assignment in Vietnam was chief of professional services at the 85th Evacuation Hospital. Later, LTG Becker was the division surgeon and commander of the 15th Medical Battalion, 1st Cavalry Division. Besides leading the medical battalion in Vietnam, he managed a fleet of medical evacuation helicopters and crews. This assignment began a close association with the DUSTOFF mission and battlefield medicine, resulting in lifelong friendships. Following his return from Vietnam in 1971, LTG Becker was reassigned to Tripler Army Medical Center where he served as chief of orthopedics and the orthopedic residency training program.
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After completing the US Army War College in 1975, LTG Becker and his family moved to Fort Bragg, North Carolina, where he served as the XVIII Airborne Corps Surgeon and concurrently commander of the Fort Bragg Medical Activity (Hospital). Not only was LTG Becker responsible for providing health care for soldiers, family members, and retirees at Fort Bragg, but he also supervised medical readiness of the XVIII Airborne Corps. Upon being selected for Brigadier General, he worked for the Army Surgeon General in the Pentagon as the Director of Health Care Operations. In this senior leadership position, he worked on battlefield medicine readiness including funding, designing, and obtaining Deployable Medical Systems (DEPMEDS), upgrading medical evacuation helicopters, and coordinating health service support for Airland Battle.
Selected for his next command and his second star in 1980, LTG Becker commanded the Academy of Health Sciences at Fort Sam Houston, the largest allied health care training facility in the United States. He was responsible for training all the medical specialties in the Army, to include officer and NCO leadership training. Additionally, he was also responsible for developing doctrine for field medical units. He was instrumental in starting the Combat Casualty Care Course.
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And Medal of Honor Recipient Gary Beikirch |
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In 1983, during the Cold War period, LTG Becker was called to lead the 7th Medical Command in Europe, consisting of 11 large hospitals, 67 health and dental clinics, a Europe-wide aeromedical evacuation unit, and a plethora of other medical support services. Besides commanding a large and complex health care system for deployed military and their families, he concurrently served as the United States Army Europe Surgeon and the United States European Command Surgeon.
In 1985, LTG Becker was selected for his 3rd Star, and appointed as the 36th Army Surgeon General. As the Surgeon General, he oversaw the Army’s complex health care system worldwide. Working directly for the Army Chief of Staff, he was also responsible for the medical readiness of the force to support wartime and deployment missions. Some of his initiatives included establishing the Enlisted Advisory Council, which looked after the needs of enlisted soldiers, Non-commissioned Officers (NCOs), and their family members. LTG Becker became the first commander of the Army Medical Department (AMEDD) Regiment. As one of the key founders of the regiment, the AMEDD Regiment organization exists today to instill pride and heritage to the many medical personnel that served. LTG Becker, throughout his career, was known as a ‘field doctor” and for emphasizing “medical readiness” of the force, his legacy to the Army. He accomplished things throughout his entire life by building teams and creating personal bonds and relationships. He was respected because of his humility, sincerity, and kindness.
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Gary B. Beikirch passed away on December 26, 2021. He served as a medic with Special Forces during Vietnam. You can read an oral history interview in which he describes his journey to serve in Vietnam and the details for the massive attack that led to his earning the Medal of Honor at: https://achh.army.mil/regiment/ moh-bios-beikirchint
After the battle, SGT Beikirch recovered from his physical wounds and left the Army. Returning to college he was harassed on campus for his service and soon left. Still dealing with mental traumas, he sought isolation. At one point he was living in a cave in New Hampshire. He went into the nearest town only to get necessary supplies. During one of the these trips, he was notified of a message to call an Army point of contact who relayed that he would be receiving the Medal of Honor.
By his own admission, it took him a long time to accept the responsibility of receiving the medal and he would still deal with aftereffects of his service every day. However, he still wanted to help people. Beikirch graduated from seminary and became a pastor and later received a master's degree in counseling. Beginning in the 1980s he worked as a middle school counselor in Rochester, New York. He became more comfortable about representing those who served and was open about the struggles they face.
“There were times when life tore a lot of stuff out of me. And I thought I was empty. But it was by caring that I was able to fill back up that emptiness.” -Medal of Honor Recipient Gary B. Beikirch
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Medal of Honor citation: Sergeant Gary B. Beikirch, Medical Aidman, Detachment B-24, Company B, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), 1st Special Forces, while serving in Kontum Province, Republic of Vietnam, distinguished himself during the defense of Camp Dak Seang on 1 April 1970. On that date, the allied defenders suffered a number of casualties as a result of an intense, devastating attack launched by the enemy from well-concealed positions surrounding the camp. Sergeant Beikirch, with complete disregard for his personal safety, moved unhesitatingly through the withering enemy fire to his fallen comrades, applied first aid to their wounds and assisted them to the medical aid station. When informed that a seriously injured American officer was lying in an exposed position, Sergeant Beikirch ran immediately through the hail of fire. Although he was wounded seriously by fragments from an exploding enemy mortar shell, Sergeant Beikirch carried the officer to a medical aid station. Ignoring his own serious injuries, Sergeant Beikirch left the relative safety of the medical bunker to search for and evacuate other men who had been injured. He was again wounded as he dragged a critically injured Vietnamese soldier to the medical bunker while simultaneously applying mouth-to-mouth resuscitation to sustain his life. Sergeant Beikirch again refused treatment and continued his search for other casualties until he collapsed. Only then did he permit himself to be treated. SGT Beikirch's complete devotion to the welfare of his comrades, at the risk of his life are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit on him, his unit, and the U.S. Army. |
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Visit the AMEDD Gift Shop |
Did you forget to stop by the gift shop before leaving the museum? No need to worry! You can check out the AMEDD's Gift Shop website. |
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