Gary Burnell Beikirch

Gary Burnell Beikirch was born on August 29, 1947, in Rochester, New York. Beikirch enlisted in the United States Army on September 21, 1967, as a Green Beret. During his time in the army, Beikirch served with the 3rd, 5th and 10th Special Forces Groups as a Light Weapons and Medical Specialist. In July of 1969, He was sent to Vietnam. While serving as a sergeant with Company B of the 5th Special Forces Group, 1st Special Forces, Beikirch was stationed at Dak Seang Camp, home to Montagnard villagers and fighters, in the Central Highlands province of Kon Tum. On April 1, 1970, the camp was attacked by a numerically superior North Vietnamese force. While his Montagnard assistants treated the wounded, Beikirch fought back with a 4.2-inch mortar and, after that weapon was disabled by hostile fire, he used a machine gun. Learning that a fellow American soldier was wounded and lying in an exposed position, he ran through heavy fire to rescue the man. He was hit by shrapnel in the process, including one fragment which struck near his spine and partially paralyzed him. For the remainder of the battle he had his Montagnard assistants carry him from one position to another as he treated the injured. He was wounded in the side while giving mouth-to-mouth resuscitation to a Montagnard fighter and was then shot in the stomach. Despite this, he continued to provide medical care and fire his weapon from his stretcher until losing consciousness. He was evacuated by helicopter and spent six months recovering at Valley Forge Medical Center. Beikirch repeatedly exposed himself to enemy fire to treat wounded soldiers. Despite sustaining serious wounds himself, he continued to provide medical aid, organize a defense, and coordinate the evacuation of wounded comrades. His selfless actions saved numerous lives and inspired those around him. On October 15, 1973, President Richard Nixon presented the Medal Of Honor to Beikirch, for his actions at Dak Seang. On September 22, 2012, the Second Battalion of the Fifth Special Forces Group named their new battalion operations building, "Beikirch Hall," in dedication to the former member of the unit. Aside from the medal of honor, Beikirch was also awarded: Distinguished Service Cross Silver Star Bronze Star Medal Purple Heart with oak leaf cluster National Defense Service Medal Vietnam Service Medal Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Silver Star Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal Combat Infantryman Badge Parachutist Badge and a Special Forces Tab. On December 26, 2021, Beikirch died in Rochester New York, at the age of 74. He was laid to rest at White Haven Memorial Park, in Pittsford New York.