As an Army captain serving with the 1st Armored Division at Fort Hood, Texas, James Becket was killed in an air crash during flight maneuvers on September 26, 1963.
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As an Army captain serving with the 1st Armored Division at Fort Hood, Texas, James Becket was killed in an air crash during flight maneuvers on September 26, 1963.
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The President of the United States of America, under the provisions of the Act of Congress approved July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to First Lieutenant (Infantry) James Oakley Beckett, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy of the United Nations while serving with Company I, 3d Battalion, 31st Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division. First Lieutenant Beckett distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action against enemy aggressor forces in the vicinity of Agok, Korea, on 25 January 1953. On that date, Lieutenant Beckett was in charge of an alert platoon on the main line of resistance. When a signal flare was observed in the area of a contact patrol which had been dispatched earlier, Lieutenant Beckett recognized it as a distress signal and immediately organized a squad of twelve men to move to the rescue. Through Lieutenant Beckett’s inspirational leadership and aggressive direction, the squad was successful in penetrating an enemy encirclement and in reaching the ambushed patrol. While he was guiding the wounded men back through hostile lines, Lieutenant Beckett was informed that there were still four men on the position and that the patrol aidman was being taken prisoner by the enemy. Disregarding all thoughts of personal safety, Lieutenant Beckett returned to the scene with five men, rescued the four wounded soldiers and then, ordering his comrades to cover him, pursued two enemy soldiers who held the aidman captive, killing them with a white phosphorous grenade and rescuing the prisoner. The extraordinary heroism displayed by First Lieutenant Beckett on this occasion reflects the greatest credit on himself and is in keeping with the high traditions of the military service.