More detail on this person: Neal Gordon Beard,
61, died suddenly on April 14, 2009 in Vancouver,
Washington. His passing is a great loss to friends
and family.
Neal was born December 31, 1947 at
Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, the son of
Harley E. Beard and Berniece S. Menze. He was
baptized into the Christian faith at Trinity
Lutheran Church in Lincoln, Nebraska. He moved to
Bellevue with his family in 1957. He was confirmed
in his faith in 1962 at Pilgrim Lutheran Church in
Bellevue. Neal was a member of the Boy Scouts
and an active participant in the Explorer Scout
Search and Rescue program. He graduated from
Sammamish High School in 1966 and attended
Bellevue Community College before enlisting in the
United States Army July 24, 1967.
Neal earned his rotary pilot's wings and was
commissioned a Warrant Officer on April 26, 1968.
During his Army service, Neal had two combat tours
as a helicopter pilot in Vietnam, serving with the
176th Aviation Company with the Americal Division,
F Troop (Air) of the 4th Cavalry, HHC 2nd Brigade
of the 101st Airborne Division (Airmobile) and the
120th Assault Helicopter Company. He was
decorated for heroism with the Distinguished
Flying Cross and the Vietnamese Cross of
Gallantry with Silver Star. He was also awarded
the Bronze Star and 16 Air Medals. Following his
separation from active service, Neal flew
helicopters in the Army Reserve with the 92nd
Aviation Company.
Neal returned to Seattle in 1973 and settled in
Kirkland and then Bellevue. He worked for
Bethlehem Steel before becoming a letter carrier
for the U. S.
Postal Service on Mercer Island, retiring in 1992.
He later worked for the Icom Company in Bellevue
and for Werner Trucking as a truck driver, moving
to Kettle Falls, returning to Bellevue in 2004. He
moved to Vancouver to work for Key Trucking. He
was an avid online gamer, participated in Civil
War reenactments and loved to ride his Harley
Davidson motorcycle.
Neal was a member of the Vietnam Helicopter
Pilots Association, the Vietnam Veterans of
America, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, and the
Harley Owners Group. He was a member of the
committee that worked for the establishment of
Tahoma National Cemetery. He was preceded in
death by his parents and two grandchildren. He
leaves to mourn one sister, Nikki Martin of Mt.
Angel, OR; two brothers, Gary of Bellevue and
Scott of Indian Trail, NC; a son, Neal E.
Beard; a daughter, Sarah Beard; a grandson, Jesse
Beard; three nephews and two nieces. A graveside
memorial service will be held at 1:30 p.m. on
Friday, May 8, 2009, at Tahoma National Cemetery,
18600 240th St., Kent, WA.
The family suggests remembrances to VFW Post
2995, 4330 148th Avenue NE, Bellevue, WA.
98008.
This information was last updated 05/18/2016
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Date posted on this site: 05/13/2023
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