COL(R) Charles E. Beauchamp

Inducted 17 October 1998

COL (R) Charles E. Beauchamp, Jr. was born in Monroe, MI on August 22, 1942. After entering the Army as an enlisted man in 1960, he served with the 3rd Infantry Regiment (Old Guard) in Washington D.C. While assigned to the Old Guard, he was selected and served as a guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Arlington National Cemetery

Following his enlisted service, he enrolled at Western Michigan University and entered the ROTC program. In 1966, he graduated as a Distinguished Military Student and obtained a commission as an Infantry Officer. After completing the Infantry Officer's Basic Course, he attended helicopter flight training at Ft. Rucker, AL and graduated from flight school in 1967. His initial assignment was as a medical evacuation pilot at Ft. Benning. In 1969, he was assigned to Vietnam and served as Troop Operations Officer and Executive Officer with the Troop C, 7th Squadron, 1st Air Cavalry where he logged 1,000 hours of flight time. The 7/1 Air Cav was stationed in Vinh Long and operated in the IV Corps Tactical Zone.

After his return from Vietnam, he remained on active duty and was assigned to the Army Flight Training Center at Hunter Army Airfield, GA and served as an instructor and aide-de-camp to the Commanding General. In 1973, he completed the Infantry Officer's Advanced Course, Airborne, and Ranger training at Ft. Benning and was subsequently assigned to the 9th Infantry Division at Ft. Lewis, WA where he commanded a rifle company, served as S-3 to the 3rd Battalion, 60th Infantry Regiment, S-3, 10th Aviation Battalion, and interim aide-de-camp to the 9th Division Commanding General. Upon completion of graduate school and the Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, KS in 1979, he was selected as an instructor and exchange officer to the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, CO. He later served with the Forces Command Staff at Fort McPherson, GA on the J-1 staff and as aide-de-camp to the Force Command Commanding General. His career continued with battalion command and in 1989 was assigned to Korea with the ROK-US Combined Forces Command as Commander, Combat Support Coordination Team #3 in support of the Third Republic of Korea Field Army in Yongin, South Korea.

His decorations and badges include the Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross for Valor, Bronze Star (2), Air Medals (32), Air Medals for Valor (2), Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Silver Star for Valor, ROK Master Aviator Badge, Ranger Tab, Airborne Badge, and numerous others. Colonel Beauchamp retired from active du.ly in 1992 and began win-king in Seoul, South Korea as the Assistant Program Manager with an invited contractor. His son, Charles III, a recent graduate of Washington State University, lives and works in Seattle.

Alumni
(by year)

[1950-1959]
[1960-1969]
[1970-1979]
[1980-1989]
[1990-1999]
[2000-present]