Church of God Minister Honored with Silver Star, Three Purple Hearts
Retired Church of God pastor and Korean War veteran Jim Beaver, was honored last week with the Silver Star and three Purple Hearts for his military service. The following is an article from the Bristol Herald Courier:
By Allie Robinson Gibson, Bristol Herald Courier|
ABINGDON, Va. — The day he turned 17, Jim Beaver left his childhood home in Dickenson County. The next day, he signed up to fight for the U.S. Army in the Korean War.
Now, 65 years later, the recipient of a Silver Star and three Purple Heart awards, lives in Washington County with his wife, Gladys.
Beaver was recognized Tuesday night with a tribute by the Veterans Memorial Park Foundation Board for his work in the founding of the organization and park as well as his service in Korea.
An infantryman, he was deployed to South Korea in 1950. A year later, he held fire against Chinese troops in a skirmish with dwindling American troops and a machine gun crew that never arrived.
Dr. Jim Beaver remarks during the veteran's presentation on March 18 in Virginia. His wife, Gladys, looks on. (Photo by Andre Teague/BHC)
Beaver was captured and held as a prisoner of war by Chinese Communists.
He was held and tortured for 27 months, starved so that at the time of his rescue he was down to just 65 pounds.
“It’s great to be recognized, but I think of so many men who gave so much more than I did, and those that didn’t make it in the POW camps, didn’t make it home,” Beaver said. “They stay on my heart and mind.”
He said he had “real, genuine” friends in the POW camp, that he’s closer to than family.
One of those men, West Virginia resident Harry Fulks, “had more nerve than two men I ever met,” Beaver said, and the pair “caused trouble” for the Chinese in the camps, thinking that the more guards they drew to the camp the fewer there were to fight on the front lines.
“The awards I’ve got belong as much to them [other soldiers] as to me,” he said. “Any man that fights in war deserves recognition.”
Several times while in combat before his imprisonment, Beaver was wounded, including one shot through his cheek that broke a few teeth before exiting the side of his neck.
Emmitt Yeary, chairman of the park’s board, thanked Beaver for his service and told him he has ably represented service men and women since his return to civilian life through participation in POW and other veterans groups. Beaver was one of the founding members of the park, 13 acres set aside off of Cummings Street in Abingdon.
“[We] wanted to thank you, to tell you how much we appreciate your efforts,” Yeary said. “You were instrumental to get us the park and where we are today.”
After the presentation, members of the park board lined up to shake Beaver’s hand. But, as Beaver said himself, thanking a veteran is also paying respect to others who have served in the armed forces, Yeary said.
“When we pay tribute to Jim Beaver, and he represented the best of the best, we’re also paying tribute to all of our service men and women,” Yeary said.
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Rev. Beaver pastored six churches for the Church of God in Virginia, including Nortonsville, Franklin, Abingdon, South Boston, Roanoke-Penn Forest, and Bastian where he retired in 1996. He was a district overseer and served on the Ministry to the Military Committee. Dr. Beaver was appointed as the National Chaplain of the American EX-Prisoners of War while still residing in Abingdon after his retirement.
“Reverend Jim Beaver not only served his country with distinction, he also served over thirty years as a faithful pastor in the Church of God in Virginia,” said Mitchell E. Corder, administrative bishop of Virginia. “The same commitment and sacrifice he demonstrated on the behalf of his country as a member of the U.S. Army he has also demonstrated as a minister of the gospel. The words of the Apostle Paul in 2 Timothy 2:3 describe Brother Beaver: ‘he was and is a good Soldier of Christ Jesus.’ The Church of God in Virginia is proud of his service to our country and to the church.”
