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Navy Federal Credit Union

The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Gold Star in lieu of a Second Award of the Legion of Merit to Lieutenant Colonel Curtis T. Beecher (MCSN: 0-65), United States Marine Corps, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States as a Prisoner of War in the Cabanatuan Prison Camps from June 1942 to October 1944.

Awards Received

  • Prisoner of War Medal

    Service:

    United States Marine Corps

    Rank:

    Lieutenant Colonel

    Division:

    Prisoner of War (Philippine Islands & Korea)

    Action Date:

    May 6, 1942 – September 1945
    NARA Database: Records of World War II Prisoners of War, created, 1942 – 1947

    Lieutenant Colonel Curtis T. Beecher (MCSN: 0-65), United States Marine Corps, was captured in the Philippine Islands on 6 May 1942 and was held as a Prisoner of War until his return to U.S. Military Control at the end of the war.

  • Legion of Merit

    Service:

    United States Marine Corps

    Rank:

    Lieutenant Colonel

    Batallion:

    1st Battalion

    Regiment:

    4th Marine Regiment

    Action Date:

    December 1941 – May 1942

    The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, 20 July 1942, takes pleasure in presenting the Legion of Merit (Army Award) to Lieutenant Colonel Curtis T. Beecher (MCSN: 0-65), United States Marine Corps, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States as Commanding Officer of the First Battalion, Fourth Marines and the East Sector Beach Defenses of Corregidor in the Philippine Islands from December 1941 to May 1942. He skillfully organized and directed the operations of his beach defense sector and maintained a high morale and combat efficiency among his units. Through his outstanding leadership and professional knowledge, Colonel Beecher contributed greatly to the defense of Corregidor.

  • Silver Star

    Service:

    United States Marine Corps

    Rank:

    Second Lieutenant

    Regiment:

    Sixth Regiment (Marines)

    Division:

    2d Division, American Expeditionary Forces

    Action Date:

    October 1 – 10, 1918
    Citation Orders, 2d Division, American Expeditionary Forces

    By direction of the President, under the provisions of the act of Congress approved July 9, 1918 (Bul. No. 43, W.D., 1918), Second Lieutenant Curtis T. Beecher (MCSN: 0-65), United States Marine Corps, is cited by the Commanding General, American Expeditionary Forces, for gallantry in action and a silver star may be placed upon the ribbon of the Victory Medals awarded him. Second Lieutenant Beecher distinguished himself while serving with the Sixth Regiment (Marines), 2d Division, American Expeditionary Forces at Blanc Mont, France, 1 to 10 October 1918. (SECOND Citation)

  • Silver Star

    Service:

    United States Marine Corps

    Rank:

    Second Lieutenant

    Regiment:

    Sixth Regiment (Marines)

    Division:

    2d Division, American Expeditionary Forces

    Action Date:

    October 2 – 10, 1918
    GHQ, American Expeditionary Forces, Citation Orders No. 1 (June 3, 1919)

    By direction of the President, under the provisions of the act of Congress approved July 9, 1918 (Bul. No. 43, W.D., 1918), Second Lieutenant Curtis T. Beecher (MCSN: 0-65), United States Marine Corps, is cited by the Commanding General, American Expeditionary Forces, for gallantry in action and a silver star may be placed upon the ribbon of the Victory Medals awarded him. Second Lieutenant Beecher distinguished himself by gallantry in action while serving with the 6th Regiment (Marines), 2d Division, American Expeditionary Forces, in action in the Champagne Sector, France, 2 – 10 October 1918, and by the skill with which he led his platoon.