World War II veteran dies at 92

A World War II veteran who parachuted into Normandy during the D-Day invasion has died.

Maynard Beamesderfer passed away Aug. 12 at the age of 92.

Known as “Beamy,” he served in the 101st Airborne Division of the U.S. Army. He enlisted shortly after the attack on Pearl Harbor by the Japanese in 1941.

Beamy served as a spokesman for the WWII veteran community, participating in several interviews with ABC-7 since 2012, according to ABC-7’s news archive.

Beamy spoke with ABC-7 in June 2016 about his service in one of his last public appearances.

“I was one of the first ones to get in on D-Day. I was a pathfinder,” he said. “There were 350 of us that went in ahead, before the main group. And (then-General) Eisenhower gave us the orders, ‘If they don’t come, you’re on your own.'”

In May 2012, Beamy spoke with ABC-7 for a report commemorating the 68th anniversary of D-Day.

“As soon as I was old enough, I signed up,” he said.

The veteran was one of the first paratroopers to jump into Normandy with the 101st Airborne during Operation Market Garden. His job was to guide planes to a safe landing.

Beamy was wounded in combat during the Battle of the Bulge, where he was severely wounded and left for dead, according to his obituary.

In 2012, he had told ABC-7 that he had various surgeries on his knees and shoulders later in life because of the injuries incurred during his time in the military.

He also recounted other memories of D-Day with ABC-7.

“Going across (the ocean), we were flying very low,” Beamy said. “And looking at each other, you could see tears coming down their eyes. We were scared, very scared. We had no idea what we were getting into.”

It was clear that other details still bothered him at that time.

“That’s the only thing I can remember that sticks out in my mind about (D-Day),” Beamy said. “Plus, other things that I don’t want to talk about.”

Beamy was active in the veteran community in El Paso, serving as a member of the Benavidez-Patterson All Airborne Chapter as one of its founding members. In one of his final public appearances, he participated in a D-Day ceremony at the Chamizal National Memorial in June of this year.

According to his obituary, Beamy enjoyed coin collecting, camping,
visiting with family and watching the Philadelphia Eagles play football. He was also a handyman and spent time working around the house.

Beamesderfer is survived by his three children, along with 11 grandchildren, 26 great grandchildren, and 2 great-great grandchildren and his siblings Marion and Janice.

The memorial service for Beamy will be Thursday, Aug. 25 at 4 p.m. at University Presbyterian Church, 244 N. Resler.

A graveside service is on Friday, Aug. 26 at Ft. Bliss National Cemetery at 9 a.m.