The Akron Beacon Journal 

(Akron, Ohio)

17 Dec 1944, Sun • Main Edition • Page 30

 

Together they had slogged through France's mud, keeping up eacg other's spirits with a wiserack and a smiile.

Together the had trained in tanks until they were experts. And togeher they found themselves in a "replacement pool" ready to be sent to the front in mid-November.

"Ray's a grand guy." wrote PFC Robert A. Brown to his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Arthur C. Brown, over and over again. "Bob's a grand pal, "wrote Ray Becham to his parents Mr. and Mrs. Sam Beacham, who moved recently from 2104 Seventh st., Cuyahoga Falls only a couple of miles from where the Browns lived.

Then on Novermber 26, as if keeping a pact with each other, the two friends died on a French battlefield. They did not fall side by side but their deaths were so close that the two telegrams arrived almost simultaneously.

 

In a last letter home Nov. 21., Brown said, "I have been assigned to an armored infantry division. All is well. Don't worry about me, Ray is with me."

About the same time in his last letter home, Ray Beacham even more serious wrote, "God bless you all. May we always remember the power of prayer and its need." 

The Beahams news of their son's death was a second blow within two years. The first came when another son, PVT Robert Beacham, was announced as "missing in action" following a battle in North Africa in February, 1943.

"Robert went overseas with but one aim and that was to be able to prevent his brother, Ray, from going into action if possible. "Mris. Beacham recalled tody. Later the older son was declared a prisioner of war of the Germans. A third son, Donald, is just about to enter the service. A daughter, Arlene, is at home.

 

Ironically, Ray, the one who has just lost his life, was an outstanding winner of Summit county "Prince of Peace" declamation contests held annually. He was the Akron district recreational director of the Methodist church's District Youth Conference.

The Cuyahoga Falls soldier was married in August, 943, to the former Betty Rith Thomas. She now lives with her parents at 2805 Bailey rd., Cuyahoga Falls Beacham was formerly employed by the Standard Oil Co. He and Brown both went overseas last summer.