PFC Lowell Alvin Beck Jr.

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PFC Lowell Alvin Beck Jr.

Birth
Ervin Township, Howard County, Indiana, USA
Death
16 Feb 1945 (aged 22)
Philippines
Burial
Kokomo, Howard County, Indiana, USA Add to Map
Plot
Sec: 23 ~ Lot: 05 ~ Sp: 3
Memorial ID
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Son of farmer Alvin Edwin Beck (B: @1900 in Indiana) and housewife Eunice Lester. The doctor who delivered Lowell was from Young America, IN.


City directory in Logansport of 1924 shows his parents residing at 706 Biddle with his father listed as a waiter. In 1926 his parents were listed in the Logansport City Directory; his father listed as a waiter and they lived at 218 1/2 E Market. 1928 Logansport City Directory shows his parents at 822 17th with his father a sorter at Maibens Laundry.


Lowell and his mother, Eunice Beck, were living with his grandparents & his Uncle Everett in 1930 in Logansport, IN on Seventh Street. His mother was listed as married and a waitress.


Looks as though his parents divorced and father remarried in March 1931 to Lucille Parrish in Logansport, IN.


In 1940, Lowell was counted, along with a cousin, at his grandparents' home in Logansport, IN (Thomas Lester 54 Edna Lester 53 Lowell Beck 17 Leona C Turner 24).


The Census shows he was also living in the same house in 1935. His mother Eunice, working as a waitress, was married to John Kramer on 29 Feb 1932 and located on another Census with John and her father-in-law Henry Kramer.


United States Army Air Corps

11th Airborne Division

511th Parachute Infantry Regiment

(Medical Detachment)

Private First Class

Killed in Action at: Ft. McKinley, Luzon Island, Philippines


Story as told by John David Shoup (#47212561) to Sherlocks Cousin(John's daughter): John and Lowell were the best of buddies in the service and after Lowell's death, Lowell's mother semi-adopted John as her own son and eventually John's children were considered her grandchildren. During the war in the Philippines and on the last day that Lowell was alive, Lowell gave my Dad his wallet and watch and told my Dad he wouldn't be coming back alive. Lowell died that day. When Dad went to see his mother, he took an Army medal to her, which really wasn't Lowell's; but Dad wanted to make her feel better.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

I personally spoke with Leo Kocher, who was a soldier in that same unit and present during the armed confrontation. He knew my Dad and Lowell and remembered the day Lowell died. He told me apparently Lowell was killed by friendly fire.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The News-Sentinel, Monday, April 16, 1945 & The News-Sentinel, Thursday, April 19, 1945

FEAR SON OF ROCHESTER PEOPLE IS WAR CASUALTY

Mr. and Mrs. Edward Kramer, owners of the Peoples Cafe, this city, were today attempting to contact the War Department and the Red Cross in an effort to confirm receipt of a letter addressed Jan. 23, to their son, Pfc. Lowell Beck, 22, and returned yesterday, marked "deceased," and signed by Lt. A. H. Snyder, his commanding officer. The parents last heard from their son, then in the Philippines, at the Battle of Manila, and dated Feb. 11, which stated that he had received wounds on Feb. 9, but in which he assured them that his wounds were not critical, and that he expected to return to duty soon. Lt. Beck was a member of the Fifth Parachute Bn. He entered the Army on Jan. 23, 1943, trained at Camp McCall, N.C., and Blanding, Fla. He embarked for overseas duty on May 27, 1944, and has been in the Pacific theatre since that time. He was reared in Logansport, where he graduated from the public schools, and from which city he entered the armed forces. He has visited Rochester on several occasions and is known here by several of the younger set. Pending receipt of official word, his parents are hopeful that some error has been made.


WAR DEPT. CONFIRMS DEATH OF PFC. BECK

Mr. and Mrs. Edward Kramer of this city today received official notice from the War Department of the death in action of their son, Pfc. Lowell Beck, 22, near Manila on Feb. 16. The notice followed receipt of a letter returned to the parents, marked "deceased" and certified by the commanding officer of Pfc. Beck's company.


NOTE The Fifth Parachute Bn is incorrect in the newspaper article. He was a member of the 511th Parachute Infantry Regiment (Medical Detachment).


Lowell was KIA near Ft McKinley in the jungle - not in Manila.

Son of farmer Alvin Edwin Beck (B: @1900 in Indiana) and housewife Eunice Lester. The doctor who delivered Lowell was from Young America, IN.


City directory in Logansport of 1924 shows his parents residing at 706 Biddle with his father listed as a waiter. In 1926 his parents were listed in the Logansport City Directory; his father listed as a waiter and they lived at 218 1/2 E Market. 1928 Logansport City Directory shows his parents at 822 17th with his father a sorter at Maibens Laundry.


Lowell and his mother, Eunice Beck, were living with his grandparents & his Uncle Everett in 1930 in Logansport, IN on Seventh Street. His mother was listed as married and a waitress.


Looks as though his parents divorced and father remarried in March 1931 to Lucille Parrish in Logansport, IN.


In 1940, Lowell was counted, along with a cousin, at his grandparents' home in Logansport, IN (Thomas Lester 54 Edna Lester 53 Lowell Beck 17 Leona C Turner 24).


The Census shows he was also living in the same house in 1935. His mother Eunice, working as a waitress, was married to John Kramer on 29 Feb 1932 and located on another Census with John and her father-in-law Henry Kramer.


United States Army Air Corps

11th Airborne Division

511th Parachute Infantry Regiment

(Medical Detachment)

Private First Class

Killed in Action at: Ft. McKinley, Luzon Island, Philippines


Story as told by John David Shoup (#47212561) to Sherlocks Cousin(John's daughter): John and Lowell were the best of buddies in the service and after Lowell's death, Lowell's mother semi-adopted John as her own son and eventually John's children were considered her grandchildren. During the war in the Philippines and on the last day that Lowell was alive, Lowell gave my Dad his wallet and watch and told my Dad he wouldn't be coming back alive. Lowell died that day. When Dad went to see his mother, he took an Army medal to her, which really wasn't Lowell's; but Dad wanted to make her feel better.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

I personally spoke with Leo Kocher, who was a soldier in that same unit and present during the armed confrontation. He knew my Dad and Lowell and remembered the day Lowell died. He told me apparently Lowell was killed by friendly fire.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The News-Sentinel, Monday, April 16, 1945 & The News-Sentinel, Thursday, April 19, 1945

FEAR SON OF ROCHESTER PEOPLE IS WAR CASUALTY

Mr. and Mrs. Edward Kramer, owners of the Peoples Cafe, this city, were today attempting to contact the War Department and the Red Cross in an effort to confirm receipt of a letter addressed Jan. 23, to their son, Pfc. Lowell Beck, 22, and returned yesterday, marked "deceased," and signed by Lt. A. H. Snyder, his commanding officer. The parents last heard from their son, then in the Philippines, at the Battle of Manila, and dated Feb. 11, which stated that he had received wounds on Feb. 9, but in which he assured them that his wounds were not critical, and that he expected to return to duty soon. Lt. Beck was a member of the Fifth Parachute Bn. He entered the Army on Jan. 23, 1943, trained at Camp McCall, N.C., and Blanding, Fla. He embarked for overseas duty on May 27, 1944, and has been in the Pacific theatre since that time. He was reared in Logansport, where he graduated from the public schools, and from which city he entered the armed forces. He has visited Rochester on several occasions and is known here by several of the younger set. Pending receipt of official word, his parents are hopeful that some error has been made.


WAR DEPT. CONFIRMS DEATH OF PFC. BECK

Mr. and Mrs. Edward Kramer of this city today received official notice from the War Department of the death in action of their son, Pfc. Lowell Beck, 22, near Manila on Feb. 16. The notice followed receipt of a letter returned to the parents, marked "deceased" and certified by the commanding officer of Pfc. Beck's company.


NOTE The Fifth Parachute Bn is incorrect in the newspaper article. He was a member of the 511th Parachute Infantry Regiment (Medical Detachment).


Lowell was KIA near Ft McKinley in the jungle - not in Manila.


Inscription

PFC 511 PRCHT INF 11 ABN DIV
WORLD WAR II

Gravesite Details

A Very Special Thanks to Contributor John Anderson for the transfer!