THE WALL OF FACES

Col. Beck invited me to fly with him that fateful day. I was the Navy liason officer, spending my last 3 months in the compound in Moc Hoa. I was a short-timer with only another week or two to go. I had flown with him several times previously but something had me say no. Instead I worked the operations center and was on the radio-phones when a call came in from the second chopper reporting the colonel's aircraft had blown up. It was a shock. All those guys with him. Next day a chaplain had flown in for a service. I'll never forget it. Somber and shock-filled. No tears around. Let's get the replacement and get on with business. I speeded up the process to train my replacement and left as soon as I could. Such is the tragedy of war. I de-commissioned on return stateside but left the country for five years, not returning until Nixon was out in 1974. I remember the colonel fondly, what little I really knew.

Lt. Col. Beck was the father of my school and team mate Marty. He came to all of our football games (Bad Tolz Trojans 1966 Season-South Bavarian District). He was
articulate , witty, supportive and kind. He was a bigger than life kind of man. He was a patriot. He raised three awesome kids

Thank you for your service to our country so long ago sir. The remembrances from those who served with you attest to their respect for you. As long as you are remembered you will always be with us....

COL Beck was an outstanding soldier and leader. He left us much too soon. He visited my team, A-413 (Binh Thanh Thon) shortly after taking command of B-41. Noticing that we both had the same model Rolex watch, he suggested we synchronize them. In my last meeting with him a month or so later in Moc Hoa, we put our wrists side by side and watched as the seconds ticked by in perfect sync. We brimmed proudly. De Oppresso Liber.

Lieutenant Colonel Martin Robert Beck, Served with Detachment B-41 (Moc Hoa), Company D, 5th Special Forces Group, United States Army Vietnam.