?American Patriot? served country in three wars

BY BROOKS TAYLOR

Mt. Pleasant News

Mt. Pleasant?s Mansel Beavers said he likes to be associated with two words ? ?American Patriot.?

And he has the record to back up the word(s) association.

Beavers may be the only veteran still living (in Mt. Pleasant, that is) to have served with the U.S. Navy in World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War.

Following his military service, he turned to civil service, working for the Mt. Pleasant Post Office as a mail carrier and custodian for 18 years.

Beavers recently was recognized for his service with a gift that will warm his heart and his winter. He became the 21st former Henry County serviceman to receive a ?Valor of Honor? quilt. His quilt was presented to him by Jane Messer, of Mt. Pleasant.

?It really surprised me. I had no idea. I think it is a real honor to have it,? he said.

Born in 1926 into a family of nine living near New London, Beavers and four of his brothers served in World War II.

In fact, Beavers put his senior year of high school on hold to serve his country. ?I enlisted in 1943, 10 days after my 17th birthday,? he reflected. ?My mother died when I was 7 and there was no one to take care of me. When I was 17, I asked my dad if I could join the service and he said he hoped I?d learned something.?

Although Navy seamen were supposed to be at least 18 years of age when they went to sea, Beavers was in the Pacific eight months after he enlisted in the Navy. ?I was the youngest one on my ship and they called me, ?Baby Beavers,?? he said with a chuckle.

He married his wife, Evelyn, in 1952, and the couple has been married 64 years and counting. The couple has two boys ? Jeff and Tim ? and six grandchildren. ?I guess I must have done something right,? he said, referring to his long marriage.

Beavers retired from active duty on Dec. 11, 1969, as a chief petty officer after which he served in the fleet reserves for five years.

The Navy became a career, he said, because of the benefits.

In addition to his service for his country, he also notes his membership in the Mt. Pleasant American Legion chapter. ?I have been a member of the Legion for 71 years. I am proud of that and think I am the longest-serving member in Mt. Pleasant. Beavers also has been a longtime member of the local Veterans of Foreign Wars chapter.

Beavers had a lot to be proud of. As he ponders his life, he said he has been fortunate. However, he is quick to add that if he had to do it all over again, he would want to live in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. ?I am glad to have lived in the Midwest, but I feel the world is going downhill,? he explained.