Korean Vet Beer Recognized As Veteran Of The Month
January 11, 2017 at 6:06 p.m.
By Dan Spalding-dspalding@timesuniononline.com
Beer, 86, was honored Tuesday by the Kosciusko County Commissioners for his military contributions, which were summarized during a ceremony by Veterans Affairs Officer Rich Moran in the old county courtroom.
Beer was drafted into the Army in 1951 and was soon sent to Korea to serve as a medic in the 7th Medical Battalion of the 7th infantry division.
His primary duty was to transport medical officers to first aid station outposts inside a 10-mile-wide zone in central Korea.
Beer recalled seeing dead Chinese soldiers lying outside an aid station and remembered noting how young and small in stature they appeared and his amazement that they could survive for weeks on just rice.
During one trip to an aid station, Beer witnessed an attack on a U.S. Army tank where soldiers were seated nearby while eating a meal. Several of the men were injured in the attack and fled back to the tank for cover, but one soldier was unable to make a run for it. Beer and another medical officer quickly assisted him and were able to provide aid and then transport him to a hospital.
Beer inquired about the man’s condition the next day, only to learn he had died. He said the experience was one he never forgot.
Beer was awarded a medal of accommodation and was later discharged back to Indiana.
After returning home, he married his fiancee, “Millie” Roecker, and they went on to have nine children while living near Milford.
Beer was a farmer, but his career included factory work, carpentry and employment with a railroad company. He also entered the real estate appraisal business, built several homes and eventually founded Beer Realtors in 1975.
He became a certified appraiser in 1991 and started Beer Appraisal Company, which is now operated by two of his children.
Beer has been active in numerous boards, including Kosciusko County Soil and water Conservation Board, was president of the Syracuse Economic Development Commission, president of the Kosciusko County Board of Realtors and served as director of Indiana Association of Realtors.
His wife died in 2002 and he married Lisa Kuhn Geiger two years later. Today, they live east of Milford.
While Beer was accompanied by many family members for Tuesday’s ceremony, a touching tribute came via a letter from a distant nephew, state legislator Scott Pelath.
Pelath wrote that he viewed Beer as a role model and recalled fond memories of times spent at Beer’s farm near Milford.
Pelath described Beer as a top-notch businessman, a man of faith and a community leader.
“In life there are special people who make an impression on you in a way no other person can. Uncle Phil has been one such person for me and I can’t thank him enough … I want to congratulate him on this prestigious honor.”
Beer, 86, was honored Tuesday by the Kosciusko County Commissioners for his military contributions, which were summarized during a ceremony by Veterans Affairs Officer Rich Moran in the old county courtroom.
Beer was drafted into the Army in 1951 and was soon sent to Korea to serve as a medic in the 7th Medical Battalion of the 7th infantry division.
His primary duty was to transport medical officers to first aid station outposts inside a 10-mile-wide zone in central Korea.
Beer recalled seeing dead Chinese soldiers lying outside an aid station and remembered noting how young and small in stature they appeared and his amazement that they could survive for weeks on just rice.
During one trip to an aid station, Beer witnessed an attack on a U.S. Army tank where soldiers were seated nearby while eating a meal. Several of the men were injured in the attack and fled back to the tank for cover, but one soldier was unable to make a run for it. Beer and another medical officer quickly assisted him and were able to provide aid and then transport him to a hospital.
Beer inquired about the man’s condition the next day, only to learn he had died. He said the experience was one he never forgot.
Beer was awarded a medal of accommodation and was later discharged back to Indiana.
After returning home, he married his fiancee, “Millie” Roecker, and they went on to have nine children while living near Milford.
Beer was a farmer, but his career included factory work, carpentry and employment with a railroad company. He also entered the real estate appraisal business, built several homes and eventually founded Beer Realtors in 1975.
He became a certified appraiser in 1991 and started Beer Appraisal Company, which is now operated by two of his children.
Beer has been active in numerous boards, including Kosciusko County Soil and water Conservation Board, was president of the Syracuse Economic Development Commission, president of the Kosciusko County Board of Realtors and served as director of Indiana Association of Realtors.
His wife died in 2002 and he married Lisa Kuhn Geiger two years later. Today, they live east of Milford.
While Beer was accompanied by many family members for Tuesday’s ceremony, a touching tribute came via a letter from a distant nephew, state legislator Scott Pelath.
Pelath wrote that he viewed Beer as a role model and recalled fond memories of times spent at Beer’s farm near Milford.
Pelath described Beer as a top-notch businessman, a man of faith and a community leader.
“In life there are special people who make an impression on you in a way no other person can. Uncle Phil has been one such person for me and I can’t thank him enough … I want to congratulate him on this prestigious honor.”
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