William R. Beasley (Idaho City 1960)
Posted: June 06, 2011
Lt. William R. Beasley, 24, a pilot with the 281st Aviation Corps flying for the Special Forces, died in a helicopter crash in Vietnam. He was born February 16, 1942, and died September 25, 1966.
From the Vietnam Wall Memorial: “You were a great class president at Emmett High School and hero after high school. Said a prayer for you when I saw your name on the Vietnam Memorial Wall in Washington”
“You and I were classmates at Fort Gordon in Officer Basic School, Signal Corps, in 1965. You were a fine young fellow, and I remember you forever as a young man with obvious leadership talent, good humor and quiet demeanor. Within 6 months, most of our class was in Vietnam. I was heartbroken to learn of your death via The Stars and Stripes. May your grandchildren carry your fine genes. 52 years later, I remember you still.”
Bill was born February 16, 1942, in Okmulgee, Oklahoma. He lived in Borger, TX. 1942-54 before moving to Emmett, Idaho, where he graduated from high school in 1965. He then graduated from the Univ. of Idaho in 1965 with a degree in business administration.
He jumped at Idaho City 1960-62.
