Harold was 91; BECKMAN, HAROLD C
CAPT   US ARMY AIR FORCES   WORLD WAR II
DATE OF BIRTH: 07/16/1918   DATE OF DEATH: 07/12/2010
BURIED AT:   ZION LUTHERAN CEMETERY   PHILLIPSBURG, KS 67661

U.S. Veteran Harold Christoph Beckman, youngest child of Arthur John and Margaret C. (Fritsch) Beckman, was born on July 16, 1918 in Phillips County, KS. He passed away on July 12, 2010 at his home in Phillipsburg at the age of 91.
   He received Holy Baptism on August 18, 1918 and was confirmed in the Lutheran faith on May 15, 1932 at the Zion Lutheran Church in Belmont Township.
   Harold attended grade school at the Silver Light rural school district 133 and graduated from Phillipsburg High School with the class of 1935.
   In 1942, Harold entered the U.S. Army Air Corps and graduated from flight school in March 1944. He was then sent to Naples, Italy and was stationed on the Island of Corsica where he flew B-25's with a 6 man crew. While stationed there, Harold and his crew flew 35 missions over France, Northern Italy and Czechoslovakia. When the war ended, Harold and his crew flew their plane back to the states. He received several decorations during the war including the Distinguished Flying Cross He was then stationed in Japan as a Statistical Control Officer just down the street from General McArthur's headquarters & across the street from the Emperor's Palace. He was honorably discharged as a Captain in August 1947.
   On November 16, 1947, Harold was united in Marriage to Wilma Grau at the Zion Lutheran Church in Phillipsburg. To this union, 4 children were born; Paul, Susan, John & Margaret. The couple farmed on the family farm for 35 years before moving to Phillipsburg in June 1982.
   Harold was a loyal and faithful member of the Zion Lutheran Church. He served as chairman of the building committee in 1965, was a council member and Sunday School Supt. He also served on the Speed school board, was a life member of the V.F.W. and active in the Farm Bureau for many years.
   On his 90th birthday, Harold had a wonderful celebration with all of his family at Rock Springs 4-H Camp in Junction City, KS. In 2008, he was privileged to go with the Honor Flight to Washington D.C. to view the World War II Memorial. His last project was listening to the entire Bible on tape, finishing shortly before his death.
    He was preceded in death by his parents, his infant daughter Margaret and his sister Esther Merklein.
Family links:  Parents:
  Arthur Johannes Beckman (1886 - 1947)
  Margaretha Catherine Fritsch Beckman (1889 - 1982)
  Children:  Margaret Ann Beckman (1952 - 1952)*

Harold C Beckman