1942
Charles
2016
Charles H. Beauchamp
August 14, 1942 — March 5, 2016
Charles (Charlie/Chuck) Henry Beauchamp (August 14, 1942-March 5, 2016) was born in New York, New York to Eulalia Margarita Gonzalez - Irizarry (1908-2004) and Santiago Jeremias Beauchamp - Olmo (1897-1979). The family relocated to San Sebastian, Puerto Rico where he attended Sifre Primary School and Narciso Rabell Cabrero School. Charlie studied at Monterey Peninsula College where he earned an Associate of Arts degree in Social Science and Southern Illinois University Carbondale, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Education.
He enlisted in the United States Army in 1960 and served honorably for 30 years including multiple tours in Vietnam. He earned the Silver Star for gallantry in action defending Fire Support Base Illingworth, Charlie's acts of heroism during the battle at Firebase Illingworth are detailed in the books, "Firebase Illingworth" by Philip Keith and "Into Cambodia" by Keith William Nolan. Charlie completed Ranger School at Ft. Benning, Georgia and attended the United States Army Sergeants Major Academy at Ft. Bliss, Texas. Upon completion, he was promoted to the rank of Sergeant Major and attached to the Fourth Region Reserve Officer Training Corps Cadet Command, Beaver Battalion at Oregon State University. Charlie served as the Chief Instructor at Oregon State University for eight-years where he mentored hundreds of young Army cadets and considered this his favorite assignment in all of his career. Charlie was well decorated, in his 30 years of service he received numerous commendations, including the Silver Star, two Bronze Star Medals for valor, three Purple Hearts, Meritorious Service medals, and was one of the first enlisted recipients of the Legion of Merit award. He was later honored with the Order of Saint Maurice which is part of the National Infantry Association. He retired from military service in 1991 and settled in Oregon where he married his spouse, Meloni.
Shortly after retiring from the Army, Charlie went to work for the State of Oregon at the Employment Department. He retired from the State of Oregon in 2005. Charlie stayed very active in his retirement. He sang in the choir at Grace Baptist Church in Salem. He was a lifetime member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, a member of the 35th Infantry Regiment Association, (Bravo Company). He was the Salem, Oregon Area Chair for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, the Vice President of NCO and Enlisted Affairs for the Association of the United States Army, Columbia River Chapter, the Chapter 305 Post Commander for the Military Order of the Purple Heart, and a C/2-8, 1st CAV Div (AM) group from his final tour in Viet Nam. He also provided interpreting services for medical patients and the local courts.
Charlie is survived by his wife of over 24 years, Meloni Beauchamp ne Underwood and their daughter Bryanna, his son Charles Edward and daughter Rowena ("Sam"), his grandchildren Jessica, Ryan, David, and Sara, his sister Milagros, and former wife Henrietta Beauchamp ne Foster. He was proceeded in death by his father Santiago, his mother, Margarita and brother, Gerard.
Services will be held Friday, March 11 at 10:30 am, at Grace Baptist Church, 4197 State Street, Salem OR. 97301. Interment will follow at Willamette National Cemetery, 11800 SE Mt. Scott Blvd, Portland, OR 97086. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Benton Community Foundation SGM Beauchamp Memorial Scholarship, PO BOX 911, Corvallis OR 97339.
The family extends its thanks and grateful appreciation to Meloni's sister Dana Bresnan, a nurse who graciously flew in from Florida to help provide end of life care in conjunction with Willamette Valley Hospice to assist in Charlie's request to die at home surrounded by family, Dr. Maziar Azadpour who fought long and hard for Charlie, Dr. H. Storm Floten of St. Vincent's Hospital whose 11th hour surgery gave us an additional four months and the hundreds of friends, family, churches, and former cadets who prayed for, encouraged, supported, fed, and made this journey mentally and emotionally possible.
He enlisted in the United States Army in 1960 and served honorably for 30 years including multiple tours in Vietnam. He earned the Silver Star for gallantry in action defending Fire Support Base Illingworth, Charlie's acts of heroism during the battle at Firebase Illingworth are detailed in the books, "Firebase Illingworth" by Philip Keith and "Into Cambodia" by Keith William Nolan. Charlie completed Ranger School at Ft. Benning, Georgia and attended the United States Army Sergeants Major Academy at Ft. Bliss, Texas. Upon completion, he was promoted to the rank of Sergeant Major and attached to the Fourth Region Reserve Officer Training Corps Cadet Command, Beaver Battalion at Oregon State University. Charlie served as the Chief Instructor at Oregon State University for eight-years where he mentored hundreds of young Army cadets and considered this his favorite assignment in all of his career. Charlie was well decorated, in his 30 years of service he received numerous commendations, including the Silver Star, two Bronze Star Medals for valor, three Purple Hearts, Meritorious Service medals, and was one of the first enlisted recipients of the Legion of Merit award. He was later honored with the Order of Saint Maurice which is part of the National Infantry Association. He retired from military service in 1991 and settled in Oregon where he married his spouse, Meloni.
Shortly after retiring from the Army, Charlie went to work for the State of Oregon at the Employment Department. He retired from the State of Oregon in 2005. Charlie stayed very active in his retirement. He sang in the choir at Grace Baptist Church in Salem. He was a lifetime member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, a member of the 35th Infantry Regiment Association, (Bravo Company). He was the Salem, Oregon Area Chair for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, the Vice President of NCO and Enlisted Affairs for the Association of the United States Army, Columbia River Chapter, the Chapter 305 Post Commander for the Military Order of the Purple Heart, and a C/2-8, 1st CAV Div (AM) group from his final tour in Viet Nam. He also provided interpreting services for medical patients and the local courts.
Charlie is survived by his wife of over 24 years, Meloni Beauchamp ne Underwood and their daughter Bryanna, his son Charles Edward and daughter Rowena ("Sam"), his grandchildren Jessica, Ryan, David, and Sara, his sister Milagros, and former wife Henrietta Beauchamp ne Foster. He was proceeded in death by his father Santiago, his mother, Margarita and brother, Gerard.
Services will be held Friday, March 11 at 10:30 am, at Grace Baptist Church, 4197 State Street, Salem OR. 97301. Interment will follow at Willamette National Cemetery, 11800 SE Mt. Scott Blvd, Portland, OR 97086. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Benton Community Foundation SGM Beauchamp Memorial Scholarship, PO BOX 911, Corvallis OR 97339.
The family extends its thanks and grateful appreciation to Meloni's sister Dana Bresnan, a nurse who graciously flew in from Florida to help provide end of life care in conjunction with Willamette Valley Hospice to assist in Charlie's request to die at home surrounded by family, Dr. Maziar Azadpour who fought long and hard for Charlie, Dr. H. Storm Floten of St. Vincent's Hospital whose 11th hour surgery gave us an additional four months and the hundreds of friends, family, churches, and former cadets who prayed for, encouraged, supported, fed, and made this journey mentally and emotionally possible.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Charles H. Beauchamp, please visit our flower store.
Guestbook
Visits: 0
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the
Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors