Reflections on life and war

Ex-Marine writes book about experiences in war and life in a wheelchair

JAMES COBURN

Eddie Beesley’s journey to the Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial Wall helped him face demons that plagued his dreams. His reflection among the inscribed names of those 58,249 Americans who died in Vietnam marked the beginning of Beesley’s healing process.

His book “Lucky Enough” is the story of a Marine corporal with humble beginnings as a poor Oklahoma farm boy with 20 brothers and sisters. The author describes how he overcame challenges after losing both legs in Vietnam after stepping on a land mine.

The book was written for his eight grandchildren, who knew little about Beesley’s service in Vietnam. “Lucky Enough” begins by describing Beesley’s 1995 journey to the Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial Wall in Washington, DC — 30 years after his injury.

“I read it in one sitting,” former Gov. George Nigh told The Sun. “It’s a very moving story and very encouraging to people who also have problems in life that they find difficult.”

In 1963, Beesley joined the Marines at age 17 after being disappointed that playing high school basketball in Beggs didn’t result in a college scholarship. The Marine Corps offered him what he needed. Boot camp’s tenacious rigidity is what he needed to achieve his personal best.

“If you are lucky enough to be a United States Marine, you are lucky enough,” Beesley said.

He went to Vietnam in May of 1965 as a member of Delta Company, 1st Battalion, 4th Marines, 1st Brigade. Cpl. Beesley stepped on a land mine near Chu Lai three months later.

His battalion guarded an air strip during Operation Starlight, the first major battle of the Vietnam War. Three other Marine battalions defeated the 1st Viet Cong Regiment on the Batang Peninsula. During a six-day battle, 600 Viet Cong soldiers and 51 Marines perished.

Beesley was injured as his platoon patrolled part of a 20-mile radius separating the air strip near the beach from the enemy. He was the point man. And he was first to come upon a mine field under construction after stepping through a tall row of hedge.

Quickly, he yelled for 1st Lt. James M. Mitchell Jr. to determine the Marines’ response. Explosive Ordinance Demolitions support was not available. The platoon could either dig up the mines for disarmament or destroy them with explosives. Beesley waited for Mitchell as a squad leader pushed beyond Beesley, bumping him slightly.

“I just took a step back,” Beesley said. “When I did that — as I dropped my eyes to see where to place my foot — I saw a different mine come out of the ground.”

The explosion killed Mitchell and Cpl. Daniel Duffy.

“It felt like my head exploded,” Beesley said. “So the first thing I did was grab my head to see if it was still there. And of course, once I figured my head was there — then I looked and saw that my feet were gone.”

A Corpsman tightened two belts around Beesley’s legs to slow the bleeding. Survival meant living for the moment.

Rescue helicopters took the dead and wounded to a medical station, and then the hospital ship Iwo Jima. He was treated in an Air Force hospital in the Philippines, and spent nine months in the Oakland Naval Hospital recuperating from double pneumonia and wounds.

“That’s where I met my bride,” Beesley said.

Connie Gaudette was at the hospital offering moral support to wounded veterans.

“The first thing I noticed was that crooked grin,” she said. “I thought that was so cute. He was so upbeat, so positive, even though he lost both of his legs.”

Connie admires her husband’s zest for life. Both practice their strong Christian faith. They married in 1966 regardless of others warning her not to marry Eddie because of his injuries.

“You will feel sorry for him,” they’d say. The couple have a son and daughter, two foster children and eight grandchildren.

He went on to graduate from then-Central State University in 1975 with a bachelor’s degree in elementary education.

Eddie had been decorated with the Purple Heart, Good Conduct Medal and the Nation’s Defense Medal before leaving the Marine Corps in 1966.

Many Vietnam veterans turned to alcohol and substance abuse to escape their torment, he said. Eddie delved into his work to find an avenue of importance. He and his wife retired in 1992 after 18 years as owners of Beesley’s Adaptive Equipment.

Today’s servicemen coming home from battle are generally greeted with honor and respect, Eddie said. It can be more difficult for people who didn’t live during the Vietnam era to understand the rejection Vietnam veterans experienced when returning home, Eddie said.

“In our day we were lucky not to be murdered when we came home because there was a lot of that going on,” he said. “There were people being beaten and killed.”

Many veterans pretended they had never been in the war, Eddie said. But he couldn’t hide his physical wounds.

“My lieutenant had been killed. My corporal had been killed. I was the point man,” he said. “It was my responsibility so it was my fault they were killed. That’s something I had been living with.”

Others told Beesley it was not his fault. Still, he blamed himself for the fact that his lieutenant would never see his 6-week-old daughter. Guilty feelings heightened when Beesley did not contact Lt. Mitchell’s wife, asking her if she needed anything. He couldn’t find them when he found the strength to face them.

“Lucky Enough” describes when Beesley finally met Mitchell’s wife, Jan, and daughter in 2000.

“It was quite emotional,” he said. “But it was fantastic because they are such wonderful people. They were more concerned with my well-being.”

The Marines had instilled flexibility in Eddie to overcome obstacles. Solace came when seeing thousands of names etched in the polished black granite Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial Wall.

Eddie maneuvered his wheelchair through a crowd to come ever closer to the wall, his wife beside him. He recalled when the lieutenant and Duffy were killed and his life as a young man going to war.

Writing the book over a period of 10 years helped come to grips with his past. Now, Eddie looks forward to traveling with his wife to book signings planned in Branson and Massachusetts.

On Wednesday afternoon, Eddie received a call from singer Tony Orlando, who had read an advance review copy of the book.

“He told me that he’d read a lot of books about veterans and the military and he said this book is a ‘must read.’”

Orlando’s comments are listed on the book’s Web site www.LuckyEnoughthebook.com.

To order a copy of “Lucky Enough” published by River Road Press, visit Beesley’s own Web site.