Martin Robert Beck was born on August 30, 1925 and joined the Armed Forces while in Gainesville, Florida. He served in the United States Marien corps and the Army. In 28 years of service, he attained the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. He began a tour of duty in Vietnam on April 28, 1969. On July 24, 1969, at the age of 43, Martin Robert Beck perished in the service of our country in South Vietnam, Kien Tuong. Colonel Beck was my Company Commander in then West Germany. He never slacked off his duties. I respected him greatly as both a man and commander. He got me promoted to First Lieutenant as an "A-Team" commander there in the 10th SFG. I know his daughter Mary Beth loved him very much also from the time I knew her at Bad Toelz. I was in South Vietnam in the Mekong Delta when news arrived of Col. Beck's passing. It hurt me badly and I'll never forget him. Posted By: (Ex) Captain John R. Schmaltz

Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1D tail number 66-00879
The Army purchased this helicopter 1066
Total flight hours at this point: 00000268
Date: 05/13/1967
Accident case number: 670513091
Unit: 335 AHC
Number killed in accident = 0 . . Injured = 0 . . Passengers = 0
costing 47370
Source(s) from which the incident was created or updated: Army Aviation Safety Center database. Crew Members:
AC W1 OSTERMAN CL
P W1 FREEMAN JL
CE E3 ERICKSON KL
G E4 BYNUM NR Accident Summary:On a landing approach with 900 lbs of water cans on board, the pilot came to a high hover and started a sink rate from which he could not recover. The aircraft strucks some trees and crashed to the ground.

Beck, Martin Robert, LTC