Freedom isn't Free, some paid for it. Edward was one of those that gave their all.
He was a second cousin, whom I never had the opportunity to meet. What I know of him is through third party accounts.
A friend Carmen Levins said "Edward was a kind, gentle and decent man. He was my friend in high school and I have thought about him many times through these past years. He endured much as a child and was a hero to me long before he died in Vietnam".
Another friend, Mary Ruth recalls, "He was raised by an aunt who is now deceased. As far as I am aware there is no one to remember him. He lived just down the road from me. He and I started school together in the 1st grade and graduated together. From what I can gather, his aunt was not very kind to him. When he was a very small child, he was attacked by a wild boar hog, and was cut terribly, barely surviving. To say the least, he lived a hard life and I cannot bear the thought of no one to remember him".
His life started hard from birth. He was born prematurely, a twin son of Walter and Maggie Brossett Beckwith. His twin brother Edwin Pierre Beckwith would only survive 6 days. Edward would bear a disfigurement to his nose due to the pre birth proximity with his brother. At age four and a half his mother Maggie died. He was estranged from his father and sent to live with an Aunt who raised him. He graduated from Jenna High School in 1966. Jenna High School lost 3 of its alumni to the Vietnam War. Drafted in May, 1967 he arrived in Vietnam on October 23, 1967. He received a commendation that stated: "For heroism in connection with military operations against a hostile force, Private First Class Beckwith distinguished himself by heroic actions on Jan. 1, 1968, while serving as part of a security force at fire support Base Burt in the Republic of Vietnam. The fire support base came under an intense enemy mortar and ground attack and Private Beckwith courageously held his position and contributed immeasurably to the defeat of the enemy force. Wounded, he had just returned to his unit after recovering from that ordeal. Bill Cockerham recalls "I was in the same platoon with Ed. I had only been in Vietnam a couple of months when he was killed. Being from Louisiana also, we quickly became friends . We lost a lot of men those 1st 4 Months of 68 That it's hard to remember any good stories about each other there were few . Ed was killed on the morning of the 12th when we were over run by a force of 800 Enemy soldiers. They hit us at about 4 in the morning. Our Battalion only numbered about 200. We were set up in a circular night defensive position Bravo Company manned about 15 to 18 fighting positions, with 3 men at each position. We had dug in about 4 o'clock, the afternoon before, and I remember how bad the ants were and how hard the ground was, so digging wasn't easy. Bravo Company caught the main thrust of the assault. And they were able to get inside our perimeter, I don't remember much after that but some information on the battle is called "The Battle of Good Friday". Twenty men were killed that night and 47 of us were wounded. We were able to kill around 150 or more.
From The Jena Times
TROUT SOLDIER KILLED IN VIET NAM FRIDAY.
Specialist Edward Coe Beckwith son of Mrs Lavinia LeCour was killed in combat action in Viet Nam last Friday. Mrs. LeCour was notified of the death Saturday. Beckwith had been in the army since May of last year and was stationed with B Company-3rd Brigade-22nd Inf. Division. His company was hit hard Friday 18 others were killed and 45 wounded. He had just recently returned to duty after recovering from wounds he had recieved. The youth was a 1966 graduate of Jena High School and had recently been awarded The Purple Heart. In last weeks edition of The Jena Times a story was printed about the soldier recently writing home that He had been promoted from PVT FIRST CLASS to SPEC Four. Part of the contents of his letter read...... "You see, its like this-the unit I am in has already earned its self a name of fame. We are right now and have been for the last two months the best outfit in Vietnam for we have the most body count of VC killed plus the greatest amount of strength, which in my opinon is good for we are very short handed. We operate well and get less amount of men messed up until now. Our high officials are recommending us all over Viet Nam. The papers over here state this to be true. I don't know how much gets to you in the news". Funeral services for the soldier will be under the directions of Hixon Brothers Funeral Home of Jena. Burial will be in Forest Lawn Cemetery in Pineville. Other survivors include two brothers, Lester LeCour of Bossier City and Rev. Laymon Lecour of Trout.
Edward Coe Beckwith is Memorialized on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial on Panel 49E - Line 29
He is remembered and not forgotten.
He was a second cousin, whom I never had the opportunity to meet. What I know of him is through third party accounts.
A friend Carmen Levins said "Edward was a kind, gentle and decent man. He was my friend in high school and I have thought about him many times through these past years. He endured much as a child and was a hero to me long before he died in Vietnam".
Another friend, Mary Ruth recalls, "He was raised by an aunt who is now deceased. As far as I am aware there is no one to remember him. He lived just down the road from me. He and I started school together in the 1st grade and graduated together. From what I can gather, his aunt was not very kind to him. When he was a very small child, he was attacked by a wild boar hog, and was cut terribly, barely surviving. To say the least, he lived a hard life and I cannot bear the thought of no one to remember him".
His life started hard from birth. He was born prematurely, a twin son of Walter and Maggie Brossett Beckwith. His twin brother Edwin Pierre Beckwith would only survive 6 days. Edward would bear a disfigurement to his nose due to the pre birth proximity with his brother. At age four and a half his mother Maggie died. He was estranged from his father and sent to live with an Aunt who raised him. He graduated from Jenna High School in 1966. Jenna High School lost 3 of its alumni to the Vietnam War. Drafted in May, 1967 he arrived in Vietnam on October 23, 1967. He received a commendation that stated: "For heroism in connection with military operations against a hostile force, Private First Class Beckwith distinguished himself by heroic actions on Jan. 1, 1968, while serving as part of a security force at fire support Base Burt in the Republic of Vietnam. The fire support base came under an intense enemy mortar and ground attack and Private Beckwith courageously held his position and contributed immeasurably to the defeat of the enemy force. Wounded, he had just returned to his unit after recovering from that ordeal. Bill Cockerham recalls "I was in the same platoon with Ed. I had only been in Vietnam a couple of months when he was killed. Being from Louisiana also, we quickly became friends . We lost a lot of men those 1st 4 Months of 68 That it's hard to remember any good stories about each other there were few . Ed was killed on the morning of the 12th when we were over run by a force of 800 Enemy soldiers. They hit us at about 4 in the morning. Our Battalion only numbered about 200. We were set up in a circular night defensive position Bravo Company manned about 15 to 18 fighting positions, with 3 men at each position. We had dug in about 4 o'clock, the afternoon before, and I remember how bad the ants were and how hard the ground was, so digging wasn't easy. Bravo Company caught the main thrust of the assault. And they were able to get inside our perimeter, I don't remember much after that but some information on the battle is called "The Battle of Good Friday". Twenty men were killed that night and 47 of us were wounded. We were able to kill around 150 or more.
From The Jena Times
TROUT SOLDIER KILLED IN VIET NAM FRIDAY.
Specialist Edward Coe Beckwith son of Mrs Lavinia LeCour was killed in combat action in Viet Nam last Friday. Mrs. LeCour was notified of the death Saturday. Beckwith had been in the army since May of last year and was stationed with B Company-3rd Brigade-22nd Inf. Division. His company was hit hard Friday 18 others were killed and 45 wounded. He had just recently returned to duty after recovering from wounds he had recieved. The youth was a 1966 graduate of Jena High School and had recently been awarded The Purple Heart. In last weeks edition of The Jena Times a story was printed about the soldier recently writing home that He had been promoted from PVT FIRST CLASS to SPEC Four. Part of the contents of his letter read...... "You see, its like this-the unit I am in has already earned its self a name of fame. We are right now and have been for the last two months the best outfit in Vietnam for we have the most body count of VC killed plus the greatest amount of strength, which in my opinon is good for we are very short handed. We operate well and get less amount of men messed up until now. Our high officials are recommending us all over Viet Nam. The papers over here state this to be true. I don't know how much gets to you in the news". Funeral services for the soldier will be under the directions of Hixon Brothers Funeral Home of Jena. Burial will be in Forest Lawn Cemetery in Pineville. Other survivors include two brothers, Lester LeCour of Bossier City and Rev. Laymon Lecour of Trout.
Edward Coe Beckwith is Memorialized on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial on Panel 49E - Line 29
He is remembered and not forgotten.
Freedom isn't Free, some paid for it. Edward was one of those that gave their all.
He was a second cousin, whom I never had the opportunity to meet. What I know of him is through third party accounts.
A friend Carmen Levins said "Edward was a kind, gentle and decent man. He was my friend in high school and I have thought about him many times through these past years. He endured much as a child and was a hero to me long before he died in Vietnam".
Another friend, Mary Ruth recalls, "He was raised by an aunt who is now deceased. As far as I am aware there is no one to remember him. He lived just down the road from me. He and I started school together in the 1st grade and graduated together. From what I can gather, his aunt was not very kind to him. When he was a very small child, he was attacked by a wild boar hog, and was cut terribly, barely surviving. To say the least, he lived a hard life and I cannot bear the thought of no one to remember him".
His life started hard from birth. He was born prematurely, a twin son of Walter and Maggie Brossett Beckwith. His twin brother Edwin Pierre Beckwith would only survive 6 days. Edward would bear a disfigurement to his nose due to the pre birth proximity with his brother. At age four and a half his mother Maggie died. He was estranged from his father and sent to live with an Aunt who raised him. He graduated from Jenna High School in 1966. Jenna High School lost 3 of its alumni to the Vietnam War. Drafted in May, 1967 he arrived in Vietnam on October 23, 1967. He received a commendation that stated: "For heroism in connection with military operations against a hostile force, Private First Class Beckwith distinguished himself by heroic actions on Jan. 1, 1968, while serving as part of a security force at fire support Base Burt in the Republic of Vietnam. The fire support base came under an intense enemy mortar and ground attack and Private Beckwith courageously held his position and contributed immeasurably to the defeat of the enemy force. Wounded, he had just returned to his unit after recovering from that ordeal. Bill Cockerham recalls "I was in the same platoon with Ed. I had only been in Vietnam a couple of months when he was killed. Being from Louisiana also, we quickly became friends . We lost a lot of men those 1st 4 Months of 68 That it's hard to remember any good stories about each other there were few . Ed was killed on the morning of the 12th when we were over run by a force of 800 Enemy soldiers. They hit us at about 4 in the morning. Our Battalion only numbered about 200. We were set up in a circular night defensive position Bravo Company manned about 15 to 18 fighting positions, with 3 men at each position. We had dug in about 4 o'clock, the afternoon before, and I remember how bad the ants were and how hard the ground was, so digging wasn't easy. Bravo Company caught the main thrust of the assault. And they were able to get inside our perimeter, I don't remember much after that but some information on the battle is called "The Battle of Good Friday". Twenty men were killed that night and 47 of us were wounded. We were able to kill around 150 or more.
From The Jena Times
TROUT SOLDIER KILLED IN VIET NAM FRIDAY.
Specialist Edward Coe Beckwith son of Mrs Lavinia LeCour was killed in combat action in Viet Nam last Friday. Mrs. LeCour was notified of the death Saturday. Beckwith had been in the army since May of last year and was stationed with B Company-3rd Brigade-22nd Inf. Division. His company was hit hard Friday 18 others were killed and 45 wounded. He had just recently returned to duty after recovering from wounds he had recieved. The youth was a 1966 graduate of Jena High School and had recently been awarded The Purple Heart. In last weeks edition of The Jena Times a story was printed about the soldier recently writing home that He had been promoted from PVT FIRST CLASS to SPEC Four. Part of the contents of his letter read...... "You see, its like this-the unit I am in has already earned its self a name of fame. We are right now and have been for the last two months the best outfit in Vietnam for we have the most body count of VC killed plus the greatest amount of strength, which in my opinon is good for we are very short handed. We operate well and get less amount of men messed up until now. Our high officials are recommending us all over Viet Nam. The papers over here state this to be true. I don't know how much gets to you in the news". Funeral services for the soldier will be under the directions of Hixon Brothers Funeral Home of Jena. Burial will be in Forest Lawn Cemetery in Pineville. Other survivors include two brothers, Lester LeCour of Bossier City and Rev. Laymon Lecour of Trout.
Edward Coe Beckwith is Memorialized on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial on Panel 49E - Line 29
He is remembered and not forgotten.
He was a second cousin, whom I never had the opportunity to meet. What I know of him is through third party accounts.
A friend Carmen Levins said "Edward was a kind, gentle and decent man. He was my friend in high school and I have thought about him many times through these past years. He endured much as a child and was a hero to me long before he died in Vietnam".
Another friend, Mary Ruth recalls, "He was raised by an aunt who is now deceased. As far as I am aware there is no one to remember him. He lived just down the road from me. He and I started school together in the 1st grade and graduated together. From what I can gather, his aunt was not very kind to him. When he was a very small child, he was attacked by a wild boar hog, and was cut terribly, barely surviving. To say the least, he lived a hard life and I cannot bear the thought of no one to remember him".
His life started hard from birth. He was born prematurely, a twin son of Walter and Maggie Brossett Beckwith. His twin brother Edwin Pierre Beckwith would only survive 6 days. Edward would bear a disfigurement to his nose due to the pre birth proximity with his brother. At age four and a half his mother Maggie died. He was estranged from his father and sent to live with an Aunt who raised him. He graduated from Jenna High School in 1966. Jenna High School lost 3 of its alumni to the Vietnam War. Drafted in May, 1967 he arrived in Vietnam on October 23, 1967. He received a commendation that stated: "For heroism in connection with military operations against a hostile force, Private First Class Beckwith distinguished himself by heroic actions on Jan. 1, 1968, while serving as part of a security force at fire support Base Burt in the Republic of Vietnam. The fire support base came under an intense enemy mortar and ground attack and Private Beckwith courageously held his position and contributed immeasurably to the defeat of the enemy force. Wounded, he had just returned to his unit after recovering from that ordeal. Bill Cockerham recalls "I was in the same platoon with Ed. I had only been in Vietnam a couple of months when he was killed. Being from Louisiana also, we quickly became friends . We lost a lot of men those 1st 4 Months of 68 That it's hard to remember any good stories about each other there were few . Ed was killed on the morning of the 12th when we were over run by a force of 800 Enemy soldiers. They hit us at about 4 in the morning. Our Battalion only numbered about 200. We were set up in a circular night defensive position Bravo Company manned about 15 to 18 fighting positions, with 3 men at each position. We had dug in about 4 o'clock, the afternoon before, and I remember how bad the ants were and how hard the ground was, so digging wasn't easy. Bravo Company caught the main thrust of the assault. And they were able to get inside our perimeter, I don't remember much after that but some information on the battle is called "The Battle of Good Friday". Twenty men were killed that night and 47 of us were wounded. We were able to kill around 150 or more.
From The Jena Times
TROUT SOLDIER KILLED IN VIET NAM FRIDAY.
Specialist Edward Coe Beckwith son of Mrs Lavinia LeCour was killed in combat action in Viet Nam last Friday. Mrs. LeCour was notified of the death Saturday. Beckwith had been in the army since May of last year and was stationed with B Company-3rd Brigade-22nd Inf. Division. His company was hit hard Friday 18 others were killed and 45 wounded. He had just recently returned to duty after recovering from wounds he had recieved. The youth was a 1966 graduate of Jena High School and had recently been awarded The Purple Heart. In last weeks edition of The Jena Times a story was printed about the soldier recently writing home that He had been promoted from PVT FIRST CLASS to SPEC Four. Part of the contents of his letter read...... "You see, its like this-the unit I am in has already earned its self a name of fame. We are right now and have been for the last two months the best outfit in Vietnam for we have the most body count of VC killed plus the greatest amount of strength, which in my opinon is good for we are very short handed. We operate well and get less amount of men messed up until now. Our high officials are recommending us all over Viet Nam. The papers over here state this to be true. I don't know how much gets to you in the news". Funeral services for the soldier will be under the directions of Hixon Brothers Funeral Home of Jena. Burial will be in Forest Lawn Cemetery in Pineville. Other survivors include two brothers, Lester LeCour of Bossier City and Rev. Laymon Lecour of Trout.
Edward Coe Beckwith is Memorialized on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial on Panel 49E - Line 29
He is remembered and not forgotten.
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