THE WALL OF FACES

SP5 Thomas W. Beatty was a Heavy Construction Equipment Operator serving with the 984th Engineer Company, 62nd Engineer Battalion, 159th Engineer Group, U.S. Army Republic of Vietnam Engineer Command. The 62nd Engineer Battalion was a land clearing unit which removed jungle along convoy routes to deprive the enemy of concealment and staging areas for assaults and ambushes. On May 18, 1971, Beatty was critically burned when a gas barrel exploded near him while operating a dozer five miles northeast of Trang Bang in Hau Nghia Province, RVN. He was admitted to a military hospital with burns over 70% of his body. Beatty was medically evacuated to a burn center at the U.S. Army Hospital at Camp Zama in Yokohama, Japan, where he expired June 12, 1971. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org and “Explosion burns Pennfield soldier.” Battle Creek Enquirer (Battle Creek, MI), May 20, 1971; also, “’69 Pennfield grad dies of war injuries.” Battle Creek Enquirer, June 16, 1971; articles courtesy of Sherry Copenhaver]

Taken from the Battle Creek Enquirer, May 20, 1971, courtesy of Sherry Copenhaver.

Taken from the Battle Creek Enquirer (Battle Creek, MI), February 9, 1972, courtesy of Sherry Copenhaver.

Taken from the Battle Creek Enquirer (Battle Creek, MI), June 21, 1971, courtesy of Sherry Copenhaver.

Taken from the Battle Creek Enquirer (Battle Creek, MI), June 28, 1971, courtesy of Sherry Copenhaver.