Donald Bean Listed on Fallen Heros Memorial

Memorial Day 2024 will be a special time for Kearney, Holt and Paradise. Some 106 years after the first of our fallen gave his life for America, a memorial is finally a reality.

Future generations will have a single place to commemorate the ultimate sacrifice made by 17 local men far too long forgotten. Their names make the memorial personal, showing the human impact of war on a community and establishing a physical bond with its residents.

As a tribute to these fallen heroes, KPGZ News will publish biographies of the soldiers as provided by Rich Kolb of the Kearney-Holt Fallen Warriors Memorial.

Donald Bean

At the time he was killed, Donald listed his home of record as Holt. His wife’s family, the Bishops, were long-time residents of Holt. It was not uncommon for wives to use their family’s residence as a base while their husbands were overseas during wartime. Although he was born in Iowa, Bean grew up in Liberty, graduating from Liberty High School in 1944.

During World War II, he served on the USS Rendova, an aircraft carrier, off the U.S. West Coast from 1945-46. After the war (1949-51), Bean was assigned to Marine Fighter Squadron 214, the famous “Black Sheep” Squadron. Beginning in August 1950, the squadron flew from several different aircraft carriers sailing in Korean waters during the Korean War. In 1951, the “Black Sheep” returned to Marine Corps Station El Toro, Calif. Then in 1957-58, Bean was part of the Marine Detachment onboard the USS Kearsarge, an anti-submarine warfare support carrier that annually deployed to the Far East and engaged in training operations off California.

 Later in his career, he was stationed at Twenty-nine Palms, Calif. His tour in Vietnam began April 21, 1967. The defense of Khe Sanh Combat Base in Quang Tri province was part of Operation Scotland and his unit of the 3rd Marine Division was in the thick of things. After about 11 months in country, Bean was killed on March 11, 1968, when mortars pounded the base. During the famous 77-day siege of Khe Sanh, 205 Marines were killed. The career Marine, having served 22 years, was promoted posthumously to sergeant major.  Left behind were his wife Juanita and three children: a daughter (Nita) and two sons (Dana and John).

Bean’s name can be found on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in the nation’s capital, as well as on the official Missouri Vietnam War Memorial at Point Lookout on the College of the Ozarks campus. It was dedicated April 22, 2015. Also, he is listed on the Kansas City Vietnam Veterans Memorial. 

Official U.S. involvement began Aug. 7, 1964, when Congress passed the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution and ended March 29, 1973, when all U.S. troops departed Vietnam. During 1961 through 1964, 267 Americans were killed in action in Vietnam serving in an advisory role. There was a two-year interval between the final U.S. troop withdrawal and the evacuation of the U.S. Embassy on April 29-30, 1975.

The memorial in Jesse James Park will serve as a permanent site of remembrance, a focal point for Memorial and Veterans Day activities. Remembering the names and lives of those who gave all is a sacred obligation, and today all three communities can be proud that this debt has been symbolically paid in full. The Memorial will be dedicated on Memorial Day, 2024.

KPGZ News - Brian Watts contributed to this story