When it comes to military heroes, Edwin “Ed” Beck is in rarified air.
Beck, a retired Army master sergeant, served in three wars – World War II, Korea and Vietnam – along with being a prisoner of war.
On Sunday, Beck celebrated his 101st birthday in a celebration with friends, family and a large sheet cake fit for a decorated veteran.
Beck, from Colorado Springs, Colorado, served for the 106th Infantry Division during World War II. He fought in the Battle of the Bulge in the winter of 1944-45, a pivotal turning point for the Allies in northcentral Europe.
Beck was taken prisoner by the Nazis, surviving six months of hell in a POW labor camp. He decided to make a bold move that likely saved his life, escaping from the camp during a work detail and miraculously returning to American troops alive.
Not Done After WWII
Beck’s nightmarish stint in WWII didn’t deter him from continuing to serve. Following the war, he served in both the Korean War and Vietnam, completing 30 years in the Army.
Even at age 101, Beck still gives back to the Colorado Springs community, helping veterans by spreading awareness of post-traumatic stress disorder and the high veteran suicide rate. Beck believes sharing his story of trauma can help other veterans seek the mental health care they need.
On Sunday, he was the honored guest at the American Legion Post in Fountain, Colorado, blowing out candles, sharing stories, and displaying his service medals.
Reaching 101, having survived three wars, is almost a surreal feeling for Beck.
“I never thought I’m gonna be this old,” said Beck. “I figured if I’d get about 90, or something like that, I’d be going. But the good Lord up there is keeping me alive for something.”
Beck broke down in tears thinking about all the friends he lost during his time in the Army.
“I am just lucky to be alive; the good Lord has been with me,” Beck said. “I am just proud to be an American and that I can serve my country. So many of them are now gone. I am 101 years old.”
But even through difficult times, such as six months in a POW camp, Beck has always tried to maintain resilience.
“Keep on going,” Beck said, “hang in there.”
‘Old Soldiers Never Die’
Mark Schaefer, one of Beck’s closest friends, said having the ability to talk with World War II veterans and hearing their firsthand stories is an experience that can’t be missed.
“Learning about history is awesome. Going places, reading books, watching movies. But nothing’s better than sitting with the people who’ve actually lived the history,” Schaefer said. “He got out of the Depression and went right into World War II, and they were in the most must-win war in the history of the world, and they did it.”
Looking back on his life, Beck hums an old bittersweet tune that reminds him of all the comrades who didn’t get to return home from war. Didn’t get to see age 21, no less 101.
“Old soldiers never die, never die...You heard that song? Old soldiers never die, they just fade away,” he sings, tears welling up in his eyes. “They’re gone. And I’m still here. And that hurts me.”
Beck’s “never give up” attitude, the force that drove him out of the Depression as a boy, pushed him through those long, dark nights in the Nazi POW camp, and steeled him against the bitter cold of Korea and the steamy Vietnamese jungle, still endures. He’s already thinking about his next party, when he celebrates 102.
“He’s one of the toughest men I’ve ever known. And I’ve known some pretty tough men,” said Schaefer, his arm wrapped affectionately around Beck’s shoulder. “You'll never fade away, Ed. You’ll always be here. You’re going to be here forever. It’s an honor and a pleasure to call you a friend.”
