DONALD W BEARD
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HONORED ON PANEL 1E, LINE 75 OF THE WALL

DONALD WAYNE BEARD

WALL NAME

DONALD W BEARD

PANEL / LINE

1E/75

DATE OF BIRTH

05/11/1928

CASUALTY PROVINCE

OFFSHORE, PR&MR UNK.

DATE OF CASUALTY

12/09/1964

HOME OF RECORD

AMARILLO

COUNTY OF RECORD

Potter County

STATE

TX

BRANCH OF SERVICE

NAVY

RANK

LCDR

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Contact Details

REMEMBRANCES

LEFT FOR DONALD WAYNE BEARD
POSTED ON 10.13.2021
POSTED BY: John Fabris

honoring you...

Thank you for your service to our country so long ago sir. May you rest in eternal peace.
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POSTED ON 5.11.2018

In Memory

A Note from The Virtual Wall
The USS RANGER (CVA-61), with Carrier Air Wing 9 embarked, arrived off Vietnam on 18 September 1964 for her first cruise in Vietnamese waters. On 09 Dec 1964 she lost her first aircraft - RVAH-5's RA-5C BuNo 149306, crewed by LCDR Donald W. Beard and LTJG Brian J. Cronin of West Hartford, CT.
Very little is known of the loss, other than it appears to have been an operational rather than a combat loss. The remains of both men were recovered, a rather unusual circumstance for at-sea aircraft losses.
Donald W. Beard was born in Wichita County, Texas, to Bertha M. and Johnnie Beard. Although he was buried at sea from USS RANGER, there is a memorial stone in Plot 3461-42 of the Citizens Cemetery, Clarendon, Donley County, Texas, which includes the inscription "11 May 1928 - 9 Dec 1964 WW II".
The photo at the top of this page comes from the US Naval Academy yearbook, the Lucky Bag, for 1953.
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POSTED ON 5.11.2018

In Memory

LCDR Donald Wayne Beard was a Clarenton, Texas native, born in Witchita Falls, Texas. He went by the name of "Dan". He first entered the Navy at age 17, August 1, 1945 during the waning days of World War II and completed yeoman school. He left the active Navy after a year and then reentered six months later on February 14, 1947 as a Seaman 1/C and trained as an Aviation Electrician. He served until June 15, 1949 when he reported to the United States Naval Academy as a Midshipman. At the time, his Naval Rank was AEAN. He graduated with the Class of 1953 and married his wife Donna, who was from Amarillo. His father passed away his during his senior year and his mother moved to Odessa, Texas to be closer to his siblings. He served on the USS BROWN (DD-546) after being commissioned as an ensign. The USS BROWN saw action in Korea while he was serving in the ship. After returning from Korea, he completed flight training at the Pensacola, Florida and at Kingsville, Texas. He served with VF-114 in the Pacific until July 1, 1958 when he attended the United States Navy Post Graduate School in Monterey, California and finished his M.S. degree. He then served with the Navy Air Wing at Kirtland Air Force Base from 1960 until he joined the USS RANGER. The ship began its tour off the coast of Vietnam in September 1964 and he served until his death in December 1964. He was buried at sea. He left his wife and two small sons.
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POSTED ON 1.3.2017
POSTED BY: Lucy Conte Micik

Remembered

DEAR LIEUTENANT COMMANDER BEARD,
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AS AN UNRESTRICTED LINE OFFICER - PILOT FROM THE U. S. S. RANGER. IT IS STILL THE CHRISTMAS SEASON.AND WE ARE THANKFUL FOR YOU. IT IS NEW YEAR, WHICH MAKES IT FAR TOO LONG FOR YOU TO HAVE BEEN GONE. WATCH OVER THE U.S.A., IT STILL NEEDS YOUR COURAGE.. GOD BLESS YOU. MAY THE SAINTS AND ANGELS BE AT YOUR SIDE. REST IN PEACE.
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POSTED ON 10.16.2013
POSTED BY: Curt Carter

Remembering An American Hero

Dear LCDR Donald Wayne Beard, sir

As an American, I would like to thank you for your service and for your sacrifice made on behalf of our wonderful country. The youth of today could gain much by learning of heroes such as yourself, men and women whose courage and heart can never be questioned.

May God allow you to read this, and may He allow me to someday shake your hand when I get to Heaven to personally thank you. May he also allow my father to find you and shake your hand now to say thank you; for America, and for those who love you.

With respect, and the best salute a civilian can muster for you, Sir

Curt Carter
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