|
An Air Force pilot from Fargo, who went missing in action 42 years ago, came home in a flag-covered coffin in December.
The funeral service and burial not only brought closure for the
pilot's family, a wife and two children, but also was a symbolic homecoming for hundreds of Vietnam veterans from North Dakota and Minnesota.
Major Thomas Beyer was shot down July 30, 1968, while serving as a
forward air controller in Vietnam.
His remains were found in Vietnam and returned to Hawaii where they were identified through DNA testing. The pilot's wife, Karen, was invited to travel to Hawaii to accompany
her husband's casket home to Fargo.
It was at that point where the Minnesota American Legion became involved. The family also wanted the major's two children, who were toddlers when their father died, to
accompany their mother but the airline tickets were expensive.
The Department's Assistant Service Officer, Jeremy Wolfsteller, worked with the family and the leadership of the Minnesota Legion to ensure the son,
Steven, and daughter, Sandra Meyer, also made the trip.
Steven lives in Brooklyn Park.
"It meant so much to me to have my children with me," Karen Beyer told Wolfsteller at the funeral.
The family brought
Major Beyer home on Dec. 15 to the Fargo airport where hundreds of Vietnam veterans from North Dakota and Minnesota welcomed them.
The funeral was held Dec. 18 at St. Mary's Cathedral in Fargo. The family asked
the Minnesota American Legion to provide the pall bearers, and the Moorhead Post 21 Color Guard did the honors.
The large church was full, and there was a large contingent of Vietnam Veterans of America on hand
as well as North Dakota Patriot Guard who provided a cordon of flags outside the church.
The Moorhead Post veterans brought the casket into the church, did the flag folding ceremony at the back of the church, and
carried Major Beyer back to the hearse. He was buried in Holy Cross North Cemetery with an Air Force flyover.
The Moorhead Legion members who were pall bearers included: Wayne Schumacher, John Carney, Tom
Linnertz, Post Commander Tim Haugen, Jim Lisko, Marvin Nicklay and Ninth District Commander Gary Olson. Linnertz is actually from North Dakota, but serves as the color guard's bugler.
Beyer was born in Fargo in
1941, went to Shanley High School, and graduated from North Dakota State University where he also belonged to the ROTC.
He married Karen Sexhus in 1963 and Sandra was born in 1964 and Steven in 1966.
He went
to pilot's training in Oklahoma and flew B52s out of Loring air force Base in Maine before being transferred to Chu Lai, Vietnam.
On the day he was shot down, Beyer was spotting while flying a Cessna
O2A.
Beyer was declared officially dead in 1978, but Karen never remarried and raised the children alone.
Among those attending the funeral was North Dakota Gov. Jack Dalrymple.
"He made the ultimate
sacrifice," Dalrymple said. "But his family also paid a price nobody should have to pay."
Steve Olson, Beyer's best friend in their youth, said the finding of the remains indicated Beyer had been killed in the
crash. "It appears he did not suffer, and that was an answer to our prayers."
Olson paid tribute to Karen Beyer. "She withstood unbelievable sorrow with uncompromising dignity."
Rev. Chad Wilhelm, who presided
over the service, had all the Vietnam veterans in the church stand up. "Sacrifices have to be made so that we can have peace," he said.
At one point during the service, about 30 Vietnam Veterans of American,
quietly walked to the front of the church, surrounded the casket, and saluted.
Beyer was awarded the Silver Star, Bronze Star and Purple Heart.
|
