- SURNAME
Van Beest
- FORENAME
William Hermanus
- UNIT
former 1st Marine Parachute Regiment
- RANK
1st Lieutenant
- NUMBER
0-17782
- DATE OF DEATH
14th March 1945
- AGE
23
- GRAVESITE
National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA. Section M, Site 450
- ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
born 24.03.1921, Nobles, Rushmore, Minnesota, USA
father Manus Van Beest (1895-1945)
mother Ruth (nee VanGroot) Van Beest (1897-1958)
1938 graduated Little Rock High School
1942 graduated Morningside College, Sioux City
16.02.1942 draft card Iowa
Next of kin - Parents, Mr. and Mrs. Manus Van Beest, Little Rock, Iowa
KIA Iwo Jima, Japan
posthumous Navy Cross
DATE OF DEATH:
14-Mar-1945CITATION:
Navy Cross : The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Navy Cross (Posthumously) to First Lieutenant William H. Van Beest (MCSN: 0-17782), United States Marine Corps Reserve, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with the First Battalion, Twenty-Seventh Marines, FIFTH Marine Division, in action against the enemy on Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands, on 13 March 1945. First Lieutenant Van Beest having taken over an infantry company after the company commander had been wounded was confronted by the enemy final defensive position which had resisted attack despite attempts on five successive days. Going forward, accompanied by a tank officer, he first reconnoitered the terrain. Then, personally leading the tanks, Lieutenant Van Beest began a tank infantry assault on the position. With complete disregard for his own personal safety, Lieutenant Van Beest continuously made his way from one platoon to another despite a withering hail of mortar and small arms fire. He ascertained what targets were holding up the attack and then personally directed the flame throwing and other tanks until the resisting emplacements had been destroyed. Lieutenant Van Beest continued these actions until the enemy final defensive line had been broken. As a result a gain of 300 yards was made possible toward the extreme northern end of the island. Lieutenant Van Beest's actions were not only an inspiration to all who saw him on this day but resulted in the destruction of 17 enemy emplacements containing machine guns and the death of 98 enemy personnel. Lieutenant Van Beest's conduct on this and many similar occasions until he was seriously wounded was in accordance with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
WEB LINKS:
https://valor.militarytimes.com/hero/7726FINDAGRAVE:
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/3795351/william-hurmanus-van_beest
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