Medal of Honor Recipients Share Stories, Make Positive Impression on Students

The air buzzed with anticipation as Naperville North faculty members, more than 100 students, community members and veterans gathered at the Friday to listen to two war heroes speak.

Karen Quinn, a communications teacher, helped plan the event and described it as “an incredible opportunity, one that we had to make happen.” Along with Quinn, teachers Jeff Bedore and Mike Jelinek, also helped make the event happen.

The men who were there to speak, served in different branches of the service and at different periods of time, but both have the distinction of being awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for their service.

Cpl. Hershel “Woody” Williams, U.S. Marine Corps Reserve, 21st Marines, 3rd Marine Division served in Iwo Jima during WWII and Sgt. Gary Beikirch, U.S. Army, Company B, 5th Special Forces Group, 1st Special Forces served in Vietnam.

Williams and Beikirch traveled last week from West Virginia and New York, respectively, to meet in Chicago with other recipients. On their trip the pair also shared with students the lessons and values they’ve gleaned through their military experience.

Quinn explained that she had been working on the details since May when she became aware that the men would be in town.

Bedore, who teaches history with Jelinek at Naperville North, was excited about the prospect of hearing the veterans speak as well as the opportunity to attend a dinner later that evening with the other 33 recipients.

“This has to be one of the biggest events of my life, to meet these guys,” added Bedore, a former Marine.

According to the Congressional Medal of Honor Society only 3,457 recipients have been honored since the medal’s inception in 1861 of which many have been awarded posthumously. The citation begins with the words “For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his live above and beyond the call of duty…”

A person is nominated after acts of valor are witnessed and corroborated by others. Approval must pass through the chain of command including the Department of Defense and the President.

Sgt. Gary Beikirch

Beikirch was a 20-year-old college student in 1967 when he decided the best way to show his ex-girlfriend the error of her ways for jilting him was to join the Army and become a Green Beret.

The citation describes that in the midst of long, intense enemy fire while defending Camp Dak Seang, Sgt. Beikirch, a medic, administered first aid to his fallen comrades, continuing even after being hit by exploding mortar shell fragments. He returned to the combat zone each time after delivering soldiers to the medical bunker even though he sustained multiple injuries.

Sometimes the sergeant’s immediate mission was to save a life; others it was to retrieve one that had been lost.

He was stopped in his efforts when he eventually collapsed.

Beikirch, a middle school counselor in Rochester, N.Y. for the past 20 years, made no mention of his act of valor in his speech.

He chose to speak instead of a 15-year-old Vietnamese boy named Deo —a guide of sorts— who had transitioned into being a trusted, valued and respected counterpart.

At one point during the fight at Dak Seang, when Beikrich compromised himself to save others, Deo did the same, throwing himself over Beikirch during a fiery onslaught from the enemy.

It cost the boy his life.

“A 15-year-old boy taught me the greatest lessons of my life,” said Beikirch, 64, who alluded to the additional grief caused by anti-war resentment toward him after he returned home.

He said that his experience motivated him to live life in the moment and to positively impact someone whenever possible.

“Being successful does not mean you are significant,” Beikirch, who is the current Medal of Honor Society chaplain said. “Deo was not considered ‘successful’ and yet he was of great significance.”

Cpl. Hershel “Woody” Williams

The spry 5’6” Williams garnered laughs as he explained that a height requirement initially restricted him from joining the Marine Corps; shortly thereafter it was lifted and he eventually headed for Iwo Jima, where a barrage of unforeseen enemies laid waiting for the 70,000 Marines.

Williams also did not disclose the heroic acts that earned him a medal, but the citation describes a man quick to proffer his assistance in a lone attempt to reduce tremendous enemy machine gun fire.

“He fought desperately for four hours under terrific enemy small-arms fire and repeatedly returned to his own lines to prepare demolition charges and obtain serviced flamethrowers, struggling back, frequently to the rear of hostile emplacements, to wipe out one position after another,” reads the citation.

Listed also are two additional instances of bravery involving Williams’ strategic and potentially deadly maneuvers in neutralizing the Japanese strong holds.

Williams, 88, who recently retired as Medal Of Honor Society Chaplain, made 96 appearances last year hoping to motivate American youth to value good citizenship and to mentor others.

“The moment you were born, you inherited two of the greatest things: life and freedom.” said Williams. “Somebody had already paid the price so that you could be born into the greatest country in the world.”

Williams stressed that selecting good role models is as important as being one. His philosophy stresses the importance of contributions to the betterment of society.

The two men, still visibly moved as they recalled their comrades, were adamant that they wore the medals not to show pride in their own achievements but to honor the heroic actions of the many service men and women who never made it home.

The crowd responded to Williams’ and Beikirch’s speeches with a standing ovation.

The men’s words made a positive impression on the students in attendance.

“I really thought this was really cool,” said junior Zac Martin. His friends echoed their agreement.

Asked what resonated with him most, Martin said: “The whole thing, but I think I really liked the part that being significant isn’t the same as being successful.”