Victor Bean Sr. Served in the U.S. Army from 1967 – 1968

Victor was born in Hoonah on January 1, 1947 to Richard B. Bean and Edith S. Bean.  His military service began in 1967.  During the Vietnam War, he served with the 4th Battalion and carried an M60 machine gun.  He was involved in the Battle of Dak To, one of the hardest-fought and bloodiest battles of the Vietnam War.

Mr. Bean “Demonstrated Outstanding Leadership Ability from Colonel William L. Hunter at Fort Polk, Louisiana in 1967.  He also received the Army Commendation Medal while serving in Company A, 2nd Battalion, 35th Infantry, 4th Infantry Division for his service from July 1967 to July 1968 while serving as a Rifleman and Fire Team Leader.  He was discharged from the Army Reserve on January 1, 1973.

According to his family, “He so often said that having gone to a Christian school & then ending up in the middle of a jungle believing that taking a life was wrong was a large part of his undoing. He swore he would never take a life. Most parts of war are unspeakable, as it was in Vietnam. He like many came home with post-traumatic stress.”

After the Army he briefly attended school in Port Angeles Washington.  However, he realized his heart was in Hoonah and he wanted to fish so he and his family returned home.  He said “When I was in Vietnam, I told myself if I ever make it out of here, I’m going back home and I’m staying there until the day I die.”

Mr. Bean passed away on October 14, 2015 in Hoonah.