In Memoriam

For most young folks Memorial Day is a day off from school. For retailers it is an excuse to entice the public in for a sale. For some of us it is a day to remember those who have served our country.

Neal Gordon Beard, 61, died suddenly on April 14, 2009 in Vancouver, Washington. His passing is a great loss to friends and family. His younger sister has been my best friend since we were six. I helped her empty his apartment and put his things in storage for his out-of-state children because I love her and honor him.

Neal was born December 31, 1947 at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, the son of Harley E. Beard, a WWII pilot of a Liberator over Germany, and Bernice S. Menze. He moved to Bellevue with his family in 1957 where I first met him as the older brother of my best friend. Neal graduated from Sammamish High School in 1966 and attended Bellevue Community College before his competitiveness with his Air Force pilot brother and the family’s love of flying drew him to enlist in the United States Army July 24, 1967.

Neal earned his rotary pilot’s wings and was commissioned a Warrant Officer on April 26, 1968. During his Army service, Neal had two combat tours as a helicopter pilot in Vietnam. It took a certain kind of man to perform the most dangerous job there was in that war. He served with the 176th Aviation Company with the Americal Division, F Troop (Air) of the 4th Cavalry, HHC 2nd Brigade of the 101st Airborne Division (Airmobile) and the 120th Assault Helicopter Company. His fearlessness caused him to be decorated for heroism with the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Silver Star. He was also awarded the Bronze Star and 16 Air Medals. Following his separation from active service, Neal flew helicopters in the Army Reserve with the 92nd Aviation Company.

Neal was a member of the Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association, the Vietnam Veterans of America, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, and the Harley Owners Group. He was preceded in death by his parents and two grandchildren. He leaves to mourn one sister, Nikki Martin of Mt. Angel, OR; two brothers, Gary of Bellevue and Scott of Indian Trail, NC; a son, Neal E. Beard; a daughter, Sarah Beard; a grandson, Jesse Beard; three nephews and two nieces. A graveside memorial was held with a veteran’s color guard on Friday, May 8, 2009, at Tahoma National Cemetery in Kent which he had worked to establish while a single Huey made a tribute fly-over.

Who knows how many Americans Neal and other chopper pilots saved during a war whose brutal memory still haunts everyone who was alive then? Regardless of what you thought of that war, let us remember the brave Americans who went to that war. Some came home and those who did left behind pieces of their souls in the jungles of Vietnam.As Memorial Day approaches, take some time out from the fried chicken and potato salad to talk to a veteran or read about some of the history they lived.