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George "Bill" William Beasley
Lilah Crowe2024-03-29T16:44:03-05:00
- Name: George "Bill" William Beasley
- Location of Birth: Calumet, Minnesota
- Date of Birth: October 16, 1924
- Date of Death: KIA - May 28, 1945
- Parents: George H. Beasley & Hiljah (Rantala) Beasley
- High School and Class: 1942 Greenway High School, Coleraine, Minnesota
- College:
- Highest Rank: ENSIGN
- Branch: Navy
- Other Branch:
- Date Sworn In: November 13, 1942
- Place Sworn In: Fort Snelling, Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Date of Discharge:
- Place of Discharge:
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- Military Awards:
- Military Highlights:
WW II Draft Registration Cards – 10/16/1940 – 03/31/1947
State: Minnesota
Name: George William Beasley
Race: White
Age: 18
Birth Date: October 16, 1924
Birth Place: Calumet, Itasca, Minnesota, USA
Residence Place: Taconite, Itasca, Minnesota, USA
Registration Date: December 11, 1942
Employer: School student, Coleraine, Itasca, Minnesota
Weight: _____
Height: _____
Complexion: Light
Eye Color: Blue
Hair Color: Blonde
Next of Kin: Mr. and Mrs. George Beasley
Newspaper article - May 1945 - Mr. and Mrs. George Beasley of Taconite received word from the commanding officer of the Naval Air Station located at Hutchinson, Kansas, that their son Ensign George W. (Billy) died Tuesday morning of extreme injuries suffered in a plane collision Monday night when two Liberator-type bombers collided in flight, taking the lives of 13 fliers. Ensign Beasley was taking his final training at Hutchinson, Kansas before going overseas. Born in Calumet, Minnesota on October 16, 1924, he would have reached his 21st birthday this October. He came to Taconite with his parents in the fall of 1930. He attended Taconite grade school and graduated from Greenway high school with the class of 1942. He attended the first semester of Itasca Junior college that fall and entered the Air Corps cadet training at St. Olaf College at Northfield, then to Minot, North Dakota, Minneapolis, Iowa City, Corpus Christi, Florida and then to Hutchinson where he was given special training to operate the B-24 Liberator type bomber. He received his wings in December of last year. While attending high school, George was active in football and basketball and was also a member of the Taconite junior baseball and hockey teams. In his quiet and winning way Billy Beasley was known and loved by all. Taconite mourns the death of its fourth son in this war. He leaves to mourn, his wife, the former Fay Marks of Grand Rapids, a five-months old son, Wm. Richard, his parents, two brothers, Seaman 1/c John of Gulf Point, Miss. and Jay, at home, and two sisters, Helen and Patricia.
"Bill" Beasley is buried in Lakeview Cemetery, Coleraine, Minnesota (Block 39, Lot 40).
- Wars Involved:
World War II
- MIA / POW:
- Civilian Life:
News article in Itasca Iron News, dated June 7, 1945:
"Ensign George William Beasley
Someone upstairs in the village hall is playing "Going Home," while I sit here, pen in hand, trying to tell you about Billy Beasley. In our small town it is just like losing one of your own when tragedy strikes your neighbor.
Full military services for Ensign Wm. Beasley, 21, were held at 2 p.m. Saturday from the chapel in Coleraine. His body arrived here last Friday morning from Hutchinson, Kansas, with navy escort. Bill was one of 13 killed May 29th when two bombers collided in flight.
George William Beasley was born October 16, 1924, in Calumet, Minnesota. He was star football player during his four years at Greenway high school in Coleraine. Graduating in 1942, he enlisted in the navy. He spent several months at Itasca junior college until he was called in May 1943. He took extensive schooling and training at St. Olaf college, Northfield; at the University of Minnesota, and in Minot, N. Dak., and Iowa City, Iowa. He received his wings at Corpus Christi, Texas, and was taking advanced training on heavy bombers at Hutchinson, Kansas when the accident occurred. Surviving him are his wife, the former Faye Marks of Grand Rapids; his infant son, William Richard; his parents, Mr. and Mrs. George Beasley; his brother, Jack, in the navy in Mississippi; his sisters, Helen and Pat, and the youngest brother, Jay, all of Taconite.
Relatives called here for the funeral were: Mrs. L. C. Meyers and daughter Marion, Wilder; Mr. and Mrs. Gust Nuorala and family, Mrs. Holger Larson and Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Borg and family, Nashwauk; Mr. and Mrs. Wilho Rantala and family, Pengilly; Mr. and Mrs. Eli Rantala, Calumet; Mrs. Ed Johnson and Mrs. and Mrs. R. Aref, Grand Rapids; Mr. and Mrs. Bosuston, Racine, Wisc., and Mrs. Mildred Hogan of Grand Rapids.
Army and Navy pallbearers were: Don Antonovich, Mickey Anderson, Gordon Lee, Charles Flynn, David Holum and Dan Gareri.
Lt. and Mrs. Arne Tabelle accompanied Mrs. Faye Beasley and son home from Hutchinson, Kansas."
- Tribal Affiliation(s):
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