Private Marvin Beard
United States Army, World War II – Killed in Action
Company I, 115 Infantry Regiment, 29 Infantry Division
March 9, 2021 - Marvin Beard was born in the small community of Timpson, Shelby County, Texas on September 12, 1915, nineteen months before the United States would enter World War I. His parents Elna Baker and Earnest Franklin Beard, Sr. were married in Nacogdoches County, Texas on December 18, 1910 and took up farming on Stockman Center Road in rural Shelby County, precinct eight. Like many at that time, Marvin grew up in a large family of six brothers, Arvin Taylor, Carl Hillard, Wilburn Thomas, Haskel, Joe Bill and Ernest Franklin, Jr. along with one sister, Verna Jean. (1) No doubt times were hard with the great depression of the 1930’s.
On July 11, 1939 at the age of twenty-three he married seventeen-year-old Gearldean Curbow in Shelby County and they lived in a home they rented for $3.00 per month ($57.00 today) in Timpson. Marvin continued to work as a farm laborer and any other work that might be available. (2) On October 16, 1940 he complied with the 1940 Selective Service Act by registering for the military draft at Precinct 4, Shelby County. His registration card D.S.S. Form 1 noted the following: Age 25; Residence, Route 1, Timpson; Self-employed; Five foot, seven inches tall, 135 pounds with blue eyes, black hair, and a light complexion; no physical characteristics that would aid in identification. (3)
With the surprise Japanese attack on the US Naval Base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii on December 7, 1941, the United States was once again engaged in a World War but this time on two fronts, Europe, and the Pacific. Marvin and Gearldean now have a daughter, Shirley Joyce and would have a son, Tommy Lynn before his draft notice arrived. On January 27, 1944 he took the oath of enlistment in Tyler, Texas and was sent to Camp Fannin, Texas near Tyler that was an Army Infantry Replacement Training Center used to train Army recruits and ship them to various units as replacements. Following approximately 14 weeks of training Marvin was assigned as a replacement for the 115 Infantry Regiment of the 29 Infantry Division (Blue and Gray Division) that had been in Europe since October 1942. There may have been additional infantry training that followed as he did not depart the United States until July 1944 according to the October 6, 1944 edition of the Timpson Daily Times. At this point in time Gearldean was expecting their third child.
Private Beard would have arrived at his new unit, Company I, 115 Infantry Regiment with other replacements in time to participate in “The Battle of Brest” that was one of the fiercest battles fought in August and September 1944 on the Western Front. This was part of the invasion plan that called for the capture of port facilities. The fighting was intense with troops moving from house to house and eventually the old city of Brest was razed to the ground. The Germans surrendered the city on September 19, three days after Private Marvin Beard was killed in action and seven days after his twenty-ninth birthday. (4) Marvin was buried in a temporary Military Cemetery in Saint James, France, Plot N, Row 5, Grave 118. (5) His comrades would fight on until victory in Europe was secured May 8, 1945.
The October 6, 1944 edition of the Timpson Daily Times, Timpson, Texas reported his wife Geraldean received a message from the War Department that read, “The Secretary of War desires me to express his deep regret that your husband was killed in action on sixteen September in France. Letter follows, J. A. Ulio, The Adjutant General”. Survivors were listed as “wife, Mrs. Geraldean Beard and two small children, three-year-old daughter, Shirley Joyce and little son Tommy Lynn; parents, Mr. and Mrs. E. F. Beard, Timpson; six brothers, Arvin Beard, Timpson, Carl Beard and Wilburn Beard, Houston, Pvt. Haskell Beard with US Forces, Pvt. Joe Bill Beard in France, and E. F. Beard, Jr., Timpson; sister, Miss Verna Jean, Timpson.”
Following the Japanese unconditional surrender in the Pacific on September 2, 1945, World War II came to an end. More than 405,300 Americans died and families of those positively identified were offered burial options. They could choose burial in an overseas military cemetery or bring the remains of their loved one home to the United States for burial in a cemetery of their choice. Elna and Ernest chose the latter as did approximately 60% of other families facing the same decision. (3) It was an enormous undertaking and did not happen overnight. (6)
The Bismarck Tribune Newspaper, Bismarck, North Dakota, March 15, 1949 described the arrival of the US Army Transport Barney Kirschbaum that returned Private Marvin Beard to the United States. “Under a grey sky the big transport slowly berthed at a vast Brooklyn pier hung with many banners. A crowd of 400 stood silently to welcome home the 6,785 silent passengers on the ship – sailors done with the sea – soldiers done with war. An Army band played the National Anthem. There was a moment of silent prayer. Tall gray-haired Colonel Edward R. Martin, a chaplain who spent 55 months overseas spoke briefly. He said ‘the world soon forgot the sacrifices of brave men but that a greater power beyond human understanding comforts us in our hour of need. We must realize that these men gave their lives for freedom – liberty, not for one individual nor for one nation, but for the entire world, for all races and creeds, in order that they may call their home, their own’. There was a final prayer and the sounding of Taps. The band struck up ‘Onward Christian Soldiers’. The honor guard and a detachment of troops marched out in formation – the ceremony was over. It was dusk. A light wind blew the long banners – the flags of every state and every fighting unit that saw action overseas and then men moved aboard the vessel to take off the dead who had made the long voyage home”.
The April 29, 1949 Timpson Weekly Times Newspaper reported “The remains of the late Private Marvin Beard arrived in Timpson Saturday morning, April 23 [met at the train station by a group of Legionnaires and other ex-servicemen] and were carried to the home of the young man’s parents to await reburial rites. Sergeant Timothy P. Monk was the accompanying military escort. Funeral services were held at Cold Springs Sunday afternoon with Rev. J. E. Johnson, Rev. W. A. Dollahite and Rev. Honea officiating. Interment rites at the Cold Springs Cemetery [Garrison] were conducted with Military Honors by American Legion Post 90. Taylor Funeral Home provided the arrangements. Survivors were [wife Gearldean]; parents, Mr. and Mrs. E. F. Beard, Sr., Timpson; six brothers, Arvin Beard, LaPorte, Carl Beard, Wilburn Beard, Haskell Beard and E. F. Beard, Jr. of Timpson, Joe Bill Beard, Garrison; sister, Miss Vera Jean Beard, Timpson, three children, Shirley Joyce, Tommy Lynn and Barbara Ann of Garrison [Marvin never saw his youngest child as Barbara was born a month after his death]”. A Card of Thanks from the Beard Family “to all who were so kind and thoughtful to us upon arrival and reburial of Marvin” was published in the May 6 Weekly Times edition. Day is Done, God is nigh.
“That these dead shall not have died in vain” -Abraham Lincoln
Epilogue:
Daughter Barbara Beard West added “although I was very young, I remember the funeral. Think we were sitting on the front row, very closed to the flag draped casket and I was sitting on my Big-momma’s lap”.
His sister Jean Beard Parker said “Marvin was such a blessing for his little sister. When he came home on furlough, he always bought me a whole box of Hershey bars. What a treat that was!”
Timpson Mayor Dannie H. Sapp received a letter from Lt. Colonel Frank Kriwanek, Quartermaster Corps, Fort Worth dated May 3, 1949 that read “Recently two of our comrades-in-arms returned home. It was not a happy occasion as when so many others returned. The sad occasion to which I refer was when two of our honored dead, Private Marvin Beard, US Army Ground Force and Corporal Sidney E. Watson, US Army Ground Force, were returned to this country for final interment. Without the able assistance rendered by your community, both prior to and during the last rites, the grief and sadness would have been
almost unbearable to the bereaved families. I know this to be true, because the military escorts Sergeant Walter T. Plavljanich and Sergeant Timothy P. Monk were so impressed by the fine work that they reported it to me upon their return. Your community provided a memorial far better than one of marble or bronze – a memory of our comrades laid in the final resting place with honors befitting fallen heroes. I feel I must write this letter of thanks, for even though the Department of the Army has dedicated itself to return our honored dead as quickly and efficiently as is humanly possible, our work would be of little value, no matter how well done, if it were not for the aid of patriotic citizens like those of Timpson who so wholeheartedly cooperate in the last and most important phase of the Return Program. Please accept and express to your community my deepest appreciation for all that has been done.” (Timpson Weekly Times, May 20, 1949).
Almost two years later Elna and Ernest Beard received a letter dated February 1, 1951 from Sergeant Timothy P. Monk who had accompanied Marvin’s body home. The Timpson Weekly Times Newspaper, March 2, 1951 published the letter. It read “I know you will be surprised to be getting a letter from me after so long a time. I was thinking today of you and the good people of Timpson, Texas, how swell you treated me when I brought your son home to rest. Sir, all the time I thought we would see peace in the world again and people could learn to be good neighbors, but here I am off in a country they call Korea, fighting the soldiers of China. Sir, I know the people of Timpson are doing their part in helping out on the battle front and it does my heart good to know that people back home are backing boys on the fighting front. We receive plenty of cigarettes and candy from the folks in the States. But what hurts us most of all is the cold weather over here. Believe me, it is cold, but it is beginning to warm up a little and the boys feel the spring air just around the next hill, so it feels a little better to us all now. We are praying this all will be over in the near future. Sir, I wish you would tell all the people hello for me, as I have forgotten their names such as the postmaster and the rest of the good people. Hoping to hear from you soon, I remain, Sgt. Timothy P. Monk. In a postscript he stated that two of his brothers are also in Korea”. Timothy Monk survived the Korean War and passed August 26, 1990 at the age of 62. He is buried in Quinlan, Hunt County, Texas.
Combat Infantryman Badge
Purple Heart – Army Good Conduct Medal – American Campaign Medal
European African Middle Eastern Campaign Medal – World War II Victory Medal
29 Infantry Division Insignia – US Army Seal – 115 Infantry Regiment Insignia
References:
(1) Year: 1930; Census Place: Precinct 8, Shelby, Texas; Page: 7B; Enumeration District: 0025; FHL microfilm: 2342124
(2) Year: 1940; Census Place: Timpson, Shelby, Texas; Roll: m-t0627-04136; Page: 2B; Enumeration District: 210-20
(3) The National Archives in St. Louis, Missouri; St. Louis, Missouri; WWII Draft Registration Cards for Texas, 10/16/1940-03/31/1947; Record Group: Records of the Selective Service System, 147; Box: 98
(4) “115th Infantry Regiment (United States).” In Wikipedia, January 17, 2021. https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=115th_Infantry_Regiment_(United_States)&oldid=1000954740.
(5) “Camp Fannin Roll of Honor.” Accessed February 27, 2021. http://www.campfannin.info/beale_to_brewer.html.
(6) General Information. Accessed February 6, 2021. https://www.cem.va.gov/CEM/publications/NCA_America_WWII_Burial_Program
