Ray Charles Beeson

These awards are based on the information below and per applicable DoD Directives and Awards Manuals:
Purple Heart Medal Awarded to any member of the Armed Forces of the United States who, while serving under competent authority in any capacity with one of the U.S. Armed Forces, after April 5, 1917, has been wounded, killed, or who has died or may hereafter die of wounds received in action against an enemy of the United States.
U.S. Army Good Conduct Medal Awarded for exemplary behavior, efficiency, and fidelity in active Federal military service. It is awarded on a selective basis to each Soldier who distinguishes himself or herself from among his or her fellow Soldiers by their exemplary conduct, efficiency, and fidelity throughout a specified period of continuous enlisted active Federal military service.
American Campaign Service Medal Awarded for military service within the American Theater between December 7, 1941 and March 2, 1946.
Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal Awarded for military service with the Asiatic-Pacific Theater between December 7, 1941 and March 2, 1946.
World War II Victory Medal Awarded for military service between December 7, 1941 and December 31, 1946, both dates inclusive.
 Note that this list may not include all awarded medals, devices, unit citations or qualification badges.
 **It is likely but unconfirmed that PVT Beeson was posthumously awarded the Army Good Conduct Medal.

Documents, Forms and Resources Found or Not Found:
No  ABMC Form 1, Headstone Inscription And Interment Record
No  Eyewitness Statement or Report
No  Memorial Marker Photo(s)
Yes National Archives Database, Enlistment Records
No Official Regiment or Division After Action Report
No  Photo of veteran
No  Washington Newspaper Obit, Notice, or Report
Yes WWII Draft Card Data
Yes WWII Hospital Admission Records

American Battle Monuments Commission Data
Ray Charles Beeson
Service # 39188322
Unit 722nd Engineer Depot Company
Rank Private U.S. Army
Entered Service From: Washington
Date of Death: October 25, 1944
Status: Missing In Action
 Memorialized: Walls of the Missing
 Manila American Cemetery
 Taguig City, Philippines
Awards:
 Purple Heart


WWII Draft Card Data
Ray Charles Beeson
Race, Gender: White Male  -  Age: 27
Birth Date: December 31, 1912  -  Birth Place: London, England
Residence Place: Tacoma, Pierce County, Washington
Registration Date: October 16, 1940  -  Registration Place: Washington State
Employer: Kenneth Bourke
Weight: 130, Height: 5' 4"
Complexion: Ruddy
Eye Color: Blue   -  Hair Color: Red
Next of Kin: Jessie Beeson
Members of Household: Ray Charles Beeson, Self
Jessie Beeson, Mother, Mother

WWII Hospital Admission Records
Name: Ray C. Beeson
Rank: Enlisted Man
Admission Age: 32
Birth Date: abt 1912
Admission Date: October 1944
Discharge Date: October 1944
Military Branch: Engineers, General or Unspecified
Diagnosis:
  First Location: Unknown, code not applicable;
  Causative Agent: None or Unknown
Type of Injury: Casualty, battle
Injured in Line of Duty: In line of duty
Type of Discharge: Died
Service Number: 39188322

Note 1: The death location, "In Dulag, Leyte Province, Eastern Visayas, Philippines" is based on the best information available at this time. In the case of PVT Beeson, this location was estimated on:

A. The American Battle Monuments Commission website identifies his assigned unit as the 722nd Engineer Depot Company.

B. At the time PVT Beeson was Killed In Action the 722nd Engineer Depot Company was conducting operations in the Philippines during October 1944.

C. Find a Grave Virtual Cemetery for the 722nd Engineer Depot Company states "Members of the 722nd Engineer Depot Company who were killed on 25 October 1944 when a Japanese bomber scored a direct hit on a gasoline and ammunition dump which immediately set the surrounding area in flames."

D. His Find a Grave Memorial page states his death location as "Dulag, Leyte Province, Eastern Visayas, Philippines".

E. No further information is available on the 722nd Engineer Depot Company.

Anyone with additional information is welcomed and encouraged to submit an email to: ww2updates@withmilitaryhonors.com.

The following information on this casualty is sourced from The National Archives Database:
 Electronic Army Serial Number Merged File, ca. 1938 - 1946 (Enlistment Records) - See Note 2

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