Stewart David Beckley

West Point, 1968

Be Thou At Peace

Posted by Steven Caldwell on February 29, 2020:

Let me tell you about the life of Stu Beckley at least the first few years of it. I can do this because we stood next to each other for four years in the West Point Glee Club and chapel choir, later in Vietnam, as roommates in DC and finally at my wedding in Boston. I couldn't read a note, I just followed Stu. He had a wonderful time in the Glee Club and traveling around the United States. We got to see things few people can only dream of. We sang at the New York World's Fair in 1965 and wandered through what is now the US Open Tennis Center. We sang in NYC many times including Radio City Music Hall at Christmas time, and Carnegie Hall, also the National Cathedral in DC and at an Easter sunrise service in the Hollywood Bowl in LA. We even sang at the opening of the new Madison Square Garden with Bob Hope hosting in 1968. It was an extraordinary time for a bunch of kids that were in their early twenties. By the time we graduated we had traveled the country and had a lot of fun doing it, and we were about to travel the world. After graduation we both went to Vietnam and both were in the same area in Vietnam right below the DMZ. Although we didn't see each other much we visited Hue, the old imperial city, together and bought ancient souvenirs. And, of course, had a few drinks in an old French bistro! There were good times mixed with the bad. After the war we were both assigned to Washington, DC and we were roommates. Stu was in the Old Guard doing what was a very difficult job because he was part of the ceremonial unit burying soldiers returning from Vietnam at Arlington National Ceremony. He was proud of this duty and it had a profound affect on him. He used to talk about it every day when he would come back to our apartment. I was fortunate enough to be an aide to a general and missed much of that pain but it allowed me to invite Stu to accompany us in a small corporate jet from Andrews Air Force Base to the Apollo 14 launch. Another great time for me to remember my friend. After living in DC, I moved to Boston and met my wife. Stu of course was my best man and the celebration was a kick. He made a great speech some of which was true. Later on we saw each other a number of times and rejoiced at all the old stories that made our early lives meaningful. We sat for over two hours at our 50th reunion laughing at our exploits together for the last time. I will miss my old friend. Be thou at peace. Steve Caldwell USMA 1968

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