The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Distinguished Service Medal to Brigadier General James Dale Beans (MCSN: 0-72931), United States Marine Corps, for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished service in a position of great responsibility to the Government of the United States as the Assistant Chief of Staff for Command, Control, Communications, and Computer, Intelligence and Interoperability Department and as Director, Intelligence Division, Headquarters, United States Marine Corps, Washington, D.C. from July 1988 through June 1989. Through superb leadership and managerial skills, Brigadier General Beans established sound policies and procedures for the Department that will serve the intelligence community and the Marine Corps for years to come. During his tenure, the Marine Corps’ participation in the Worldwide Military Command and Control System more than doubled, and the network was extended throughout Fleet Marine Force (FMF), Atlantic and Pacific. Additionally, Brigadier General Beans laid the groundwork for a secure video teleconferencing network which allowed commanders and action officers to conduct “face-to-face” meetings and briefings without the time and cost consumed by travel. He significantly improved the intelligence posture of both FMF’s and the National Intelligence Community and often developed, represented, and defended Marine Corps positions on intelligence and counterintelligence matters. Brigadier General Beans’ sage advice, broad experience, and clarity of vision earned the loyalty, profound respect, and admiration of all with whom he served. By his exemplary performance, distinctive accomplishments, and steadfast devotion to duty, Brigadier General Beans reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.
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Awards Received
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Silver Star
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Legion of Merit
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Defense Superior Service Medal
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Silver Star
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Major James Dale Beans (MCSN: 0-72931), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving with Advisor, in connection with combat operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam on 2 May 1971. On that date, Major Beans was serving as the Senior Advisor to the Ninth Vietnamese Marine Corps Infantry Battalion engaged in combat operations to defend the Song O-Khe bridgehead on National Route ONE, nine miles Southeast of Quang Tri City. Commencing at 0545 hours, a massive enemy artillery barrage struck the bridgehead area for twenty minutes follow by a bold well-coordinated North Vietnamese Infantry battalion assault from the North, supported by eighteen enemy tanks. Three of the lead tanks successfully breached the bridgehead defenses, rapidly crossed the bridge and penetrated the Ninth Battalion’s Command Post area on the South bank of the Song O’Khe River. A fierce close-quarter enemy tank versus Marine infantrymen battle ensued. With great presence of mind, Major Beans calmly responded to this critical situation by calling for and receiving close air support aircraft which isolated the enemy tanks and permitted their destruction. He then moved to an exposed observation position where he directed intensely accurate air strikes on the remainder of the enemy tanks and infantry. During this crucial moments he was subjected to intense enemy automatic weapons and tank fire. With complete disregard for his own personal safety, he remained in his exposed position and resolutely persisted in his accurate direction of devastating air strikes that destroyed much of the enemy armor. Major Beans’ courageous action and outstanding advice and assistance to his counterpart contributed to the Ninth Vietnamese Battalion’s success in repelling the enemy’s coordinated attack and directly attributed to the safe passage of over 10,000 friendly troops to the Hue City area. Major Beans’ devotion to duty, courage under fire, exemplary professionalism and leadership reflected great credit upon himself and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
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Legion of Merit
(Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: Major James Dale Beans (MCSN: 0-72931), United States Marine Corps, was awarded the Legion of Merit with Combat “V” for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States.
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Defense Superior Service Medal
Service:
United States Marine CorpsRank:
ColonelAction Date:
May 1981 – June 1983
Under the provisions of Department of Defense 1348.33-M, the Secretary of Defense of the United States of America takes pleasure in awarding the Defense Superior Service Medal to Colonel James Dale Beans (MCSN: 0-72931), United States Marine Corps, for exceptionally superior service from May 1981 through June 1983, while assigned as the Marine Corps member of the Chairman’s Staff Group, Office of the Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff. He demonstrated leadership, vision, and highly developed analytical skills while providing timely and effective advice to the Chairman across a broad spectrum of difficult and complex national security issues. He was responsible for such diverse matters as readiness, force deployments, security assistance, exercises, and contingency planning for the Pacific, Southwest Asian and Indian Ocean areas. He provided direct and substantive inputs to DoD and interagency planning. Additionally, he proposed invaluable advice and counsel while accompanying the Chairman on official trips to military facilities and operational units in Alaska, Japan, Korea, Thailand and the Philippines. On each occasion, he prepared the Chairman for discussions with heads of state and other high-level officials. He displayed a depth of understanding and a solid grasp of detail across a wide range of sensitive and complex issues. The distinctive accomplishments of Colonel Beans reflect great credit upon himself, the United States Marine Corps, the Organization of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the Department of Defense.