This week’s America250 salute is Army Veteran Gary Beikirch, a Medal of Honor recipient who risked his life to save others in Vietnam as a combat medic.
While attending college in 1967, Gary Beikirch decided to enlist in the U.S Army Special Forces. “It was the idea of a challenge to myself.” Beikirch recalled in an interview.
Beikirch completed basic infantry and paratrooper training before later qualifying for Special Forces. He became a medic because he wanted to help others: “I just knew that when I went into Special Forces, that’s what I was going to be: a medic.” Beikirch graduated third in his class.
Initially he was assigned to two other groups before landing with Company B of the 5th Special Forces Group, which deployed to Vietnam in 1969. Beikirch’s group was stationed at Camp Dak Seang. He worked closely with a young Montagnard man named Deo, who was assigned as Beikirch’s bodyguard.
On April 1, 1970, Camp Dak Seang was surrounded and attacked by the North Vietnamese Army. Beikirch and Deo ran into the line of fire to assist their wounded comrades. Beikirch, hit by shrapnel, continued helping others. He was injured a second time shielding a Montagnard soldier from a rocket attack. During a third rescue attempt, Deo was killed protecting Beikirch from a rocket. Severely injured, he continued to medically assist the wounded men before collapsing from gunshot wounds to the back.
After being taken to a hospital in Japan, Beikirch spent six months at Valley Forge Medical Center regaining his ability to walk. He was medically discharged from the Army as a sergeant and received many awards for his service, including a Purple Heart, a Distinguished Service Cross, a Bronze Star Medal, and a Silver Star.
Upon leaving the Army, Beikirch returned to college, intending to attend medical school. However, he struggled with post-traumatic stress disorder and was harassed by his peers for being a Vietnam Veteran. He left college. After isolating and reflecting in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, he decided to enter the Baptist ministry. Soon afterwards, he was awarded a Medal of Honor for his actions at Dak Seang. Beikirch always stated that Deo was equally important in the rescue attempts. “My Medal of Honor citation says that I did all these things, but actually I couldn’t have done any of them, except that I had… Deo,” he shared.
Beikirch served as an associate pastor before he became a middle school counselor. Reflecting on Deo’s influence, he said, “I’ve taught my students that there’s a big difference between success and significance. Significance is when you are part of somebody’s life, and they are part of yours and you both walk away changed.”
Beikirch also worked as a pastor in prisons, hospitals, the Veterans Outreach Center, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Board, the Open-Door Mission, and served as a chaplain to the Medal of Honor Society. In September 2012, the 2nd Battalion of the 5th Special Forces Group named their new Battalion Operations Complex Beikirch Hall in his honor.
Beikirch died in Rochester, New York, in December 2021 at the age of 74.
We honor his service.
America250
VA is highlighting 250 Veterans leading up to July 4, 2026, which marks 250 years of independence. Learn more about the count down to 250 years of the American spirit at https://america250.org/.
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