A Tribute to Slim

Warren Beamish was a native of Michigan, but he lived most of his life in Chadron, Nebraska, where few folks knew about his extraordinary war record. Although our families were friends for many years, it was only recently that I discovered that he was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for his heroism during the invasion of Sicily.

Staff Sergeant Warren Beamish, U. S. Army
Anticipating that he'd probably be drafted anyway, Warren Beamish enlisted in the Army in 1942. He became a member of the 40th Engineers and saw action in Africa, Sicily and Italy.
From a book about the 40th Engineers...
"On Cent beaches, two officers and two enlisted men, 1st Lt. Keith E. Miller, 2d Lt. George S. Spohn, T/5 Robert L. Beall, and Sgt. Warren W. Beamish of the 40th Engineers won Distinguished Service Crosses for their part in taking pillboxes that had the beach under fire."
The Distinguished Service Cross
Awarded for extraordinary heroism while engaged in action against an enemy of the United States; while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing or foreign force or while serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in an armed conflict against an opposing Armed Force in which the United States is not a belligerent party. The act or acts of heroism must have been so notable and have involved risk of life so extraordinary as to set the individual apart from his or her comrades.
View across the southern Sicilian beaches
This photo was taken from near a pill box, probably not unlike those manned by enemy combatants taken prisoner by Sergeant Beamish and Lieutenant Spohn.
July 1943
Armored forces during the invasion of Sicily.
It has horsepower – but it ain't a horse!
No location is listed, but this is believed to be Sergeant Warren Beamish atop a military motorcycle -- a far cry from riding horses back in Nebraska.
The awardees
This photograph of Staff Sergeant Beamish and Lieutenant Spohn appears to have been taken in an urban area -- perhaps at a building in Siciliy used as military headquarters. Click on the photograph to see a larger image.
11 July 1943
The USS Boise crosses the bow of LST 325 off the coast of Sicily. This photo was taken during one of the major European actions of World War II.