David V Beard

Served in Army Air Corps during WW-II, 16 April 1942-11 October 1945.
Pulled out of weather school to go to Alaska as a gunner on a bomber when
there were fears the Japanese would attack there. Made at least 3
amphibious combat landings (one with Garand rifle, too long & heavy and
clips held too few rounds; one with Thompson submachine gun, a
charging Japanese soldier covered roughly 100 yards before
dropping in front of Dave's foxhole due to loss of blood from
holes shot through him; third landing with M-1 carbine, somewhat
inaccurate until the barrel was warmed up by four or five rounds
going through it but otherwise ok). Parachuted in and set up
weather stations in the hills of the Philippines while those
islands were occupied by the Japanese. Flew on bombing raids
against Japan as weather observer and tail gunner. Claimed
preparation and defense before MacArthur of the typhoon forecast
that persuaded MacArthur to delay his landing in Japan. MacArthur
was not happy with his planned schedule knocked out of kilter,
but it saved probably thousands of U.S. lives on ships the typhoon
would have sunk had they not been at sea and able to maneuver to
cope with hurricane-force winds.