World War II Honoree

Bernard M. Beard

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Stillwater, Oklahoma

Honored By

William E. Shaklee

Relationship

ROTC Classmate

HE WAS APPOINTED SECOND LIEUTENANT MAY 14, 1942, FROM ROTC, OKLAHOMA A & M COLLEGE, STILLWATER, OKLAHOMA. HE WAS ORDERED TO ACTIVE DUTY JUNE 2 TO THE INFANTRY REPLACEMENT TRAINING CENTER, CAMP WALTERS, TEXAS, AND THE 6TH MOTORIZED DIVISION, 63RD INFANTRY TO APRIL 1943. HE TRANSFERRED TO THE U.S. ARMY AIR CORPS FOR AIR CREW TRAINING IN GRADE AS FIRST LIEUTENANT. HE COMPLETED NAVIGATIONAL TRAINING APRIL 1944 AND WAS ASSIGNED TO THE 12TH AIR FORCE, 60TH TROOP CARRIER GROUP, 10TH SQUADRON STATIONED AT BRINDISI, ITALY. HE FLEW COMBAT MISSIONS OVER THE BALKAN COUNTRIES. HE WAS AWARDED THE AIR MEDAL WITH 5 OAK LEAF CLUSTERS, DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS, AND PARTISAN STAR BY THE YUGOSLAVIA GOVERNMENT. HE WAS RELEASED FROM ACTIVE DUTY DECEMBER 22, 1946 AS A MAJOR IN U.S. ARMY AIR CORPS RESERVE.