Lewis Charles Beebe (December 7, 1891 – February 17, 1951) was an American

brigadier general Brigadier general or Brigade general is a military rank used in many countries. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries. The rank is usually above a colonel, and below a major general or divisional general. When appointed ...

. He was one of the survivors of the

Bataan Death March The Bataan Death March (Filipino: ''Martsa ng Kamatayan sa Bataan''; Spanish: ''Marcha de la muerte de Bataán'' ; Kapampangan: ''Martsa ning Kematayan quing Bataan''; Japanese: バターン死の行進, Hepburn: ''Batān Shi no Kōshin'') was ...

. Beebe was Chief of Staff of U.S. Forces under General Jonathan Wainwright during

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

. He had previously been an assistant chief of staff under General

Douglas MacArthur Douglas MacArthur (26 January 18805 April 1964) was an American military leader who served as General of the Army for the United States, as well as a field marshal to the Philippine Army. He had served with distinction in World War I, was C ...

. Beebe was an enlisted soldier from March 1913 until February 1914. He then enlisted in the

Oregon National Guard The Oregon Military Department is an agency of the government of the U.S. state of Oregon, which oversees the armed forces of the state of Oregon. Under the authority and direction of the governor as commander-in-chief, the agency is responsib ...

in April 1916 and was commissioned as a second lieutenant of coast artillery in September 1916 after graduating from the

University of Oregon The University of Oregon (UO, U of O or Oregon) is a public research university in Eugene, Oregon. Founded in 1876, the institution is well known for its strong ties to the sports apparel and marketing firm Nike, Inc, and its co-founder, billion ...

. Beebe subsequently accepted a commission as a second lieutenant of infantry in the Regular Army in November 1917. During

World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

, he served as a temporary captain with the 30th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Division in France, earning the

Distinguished Service Cross The Distinguished Service Cross (D.S.C.) is a military decoration for courage. Different versions exist for different countries. *Distinguished Service Cross (Australia) *Distinguished Service Cross (United Kingdom) *Distinguished Service Cross (U ...

and a

Purple Heart The Purple Heart (PH) is a United States military decoration awarded in the name of the President to those wounded or killed while serving, on or after 5 April 1917, with the U.S. military. With its forerunner, the Badge of Military Merit, w ...

. Beebe graduated from the

Command and General Staff School The United States Army Command and General Staff College (CGSC or, obsolete, USACGSC) at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, is a graduate school for United States Army and sister service officers, interagency representatives, and international military ...

in 1932 and the Army War College in 1939. He was promoted to major in August 1935 and lieutenant colonel in July 1940. Douglas MacArthur signs formal surrender

Douglas MacArthur signs formal surrender

Sent to the Philippines, Beebe received temporary promotions to colonel in December 1941 where he served as Supply Officer G4 of USAFFE and brigadier general in March 1942 as Assistant Chief of Staff of General Douglas MacArthur as representative in the Philippines. However, with changed of command structure initiated by Washington D.C as they find the command structure confusing. Major General

Jonathan M. Wainwright IV Jonathan Mayhew Wainwright IV (August 23, 1883 – September 2, 1953) was a career American army officer and the Commander of Allied forces in the Philippines at the time Japan surrendered to the United States, during World War II. Wainwright w ...

as the most senior officer in the Philippines was promoted to lieutenant general and assumed the command US Forces in the Philippines (USFIP) covering both Army and Navy forces in the Philippines. General Wainwright made General Beebe as his chief of staff until their surrender in Corregidor island in May 1942. After surrendering to Japanese forces, he spent over three years as a prisoner of war in Manchuria and was rescued by OSS in 1945. Beebe served in Texas and West Germany after the war. His wartime promotion to brigadier general was made permanent in January 1948. He retired from active duty on September 30, 1950. Beebe suffered a cerebral hemorrhage and died at his home in

Faribault, Minnesota Faribault ( ) is a city in, and the county seat of, Rice County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 23,352 at the 2010 census. Faribault is approximately south of Minneapolis–Saint Paul. Interstate 35 and Minnesota State Highways ...

on February 17, 1951. He was buried at

Arlington National Cemetery Arlington National Cemetery is one of two national cemeteries run by the United States Army. Nearly 400,000 people are buried in its 639 acres (259 ha) in Arlington, Virginia. There are about 30 funerals conducted on weekdays and 7 held on Sa ...

six days later.

References

External links

A Brief Biography of Brig. Gen. Lewis C. Beebe
– Osceola County Iowa Genealogy

1891 births 1951 deaths People from Osceola County, Iowa Oregon National Guard personnel University of Oregon alumni United States Army personnel of World War I Recipients of the Distinguished Service Cross (United States) Recipients of the Croix de Guerre 1914–1918 (France) United States Army Command and General Staff College alumni United States Army War College alumni United States Army generals of World War II American prisoners of war in World War II World War II prisoners of war held by Japan Bataan Death March prisoners Recipients of the Distinguished Service Medal (US Army) United States Army generals People from Faribault, Minnesota Burials at Arlington National Cemetery {{US-army-World-War-I-bio-stub

See also

References

External links