Billie Benson Beasley

 

 

Born in 1924, to Arnold and Florence Beasley, Billie lived through two of our nations most challenging periods.   As a young man he became to know both the hardships of the Great Depression and the hellish destruction of lives in the Pacific islands in World War Two.  As a tank commander, he won a Silver Star for heroism during the invasion and battles of Peleliu in the Palau Group on October 5th, 1944.   He served in the 81st Infantry Armored Unit, which had been attached to the invading Marine Divisions.  He also served on two other beachheads, one being the invasion of the Philipines.

 

After returning from the war he married Winnie Stokes of Joplin Mo.  He fathered two sons, Billy Beasley of Weatherford, Texas, and Robert Beasley of Mesquite, Texas. His family migrated to Dallas, Texas in 1961 when his work as a trucker hauling new Ford automobiles moved.   He led an exemplary life and enjoyed bird hunting and working with tools.  He died in 1977 in Mesquite, Texas.  (See photo list on main family page)