John Beason was born on December 26, 1914, in Greene County, Ohio. He enlisted in the Ohio National Guard on September 30, 1940, and served as a radio operator with the Field Artillery of the 37th Infantry Division. Sgt Beason was activated with the 37th ID on October 15, 1940, and after training in the U.S., the division was deployed to the Pacific in May 1942. He served with the unit in the Fiji Islands from June 1942 to April 1943, and then on Guadalcanal from April to November 1943. He deployed to Bougainville from November 1943 to January 1945, and then participated in the Philippine Campaign from January 1945 to September 1945, when he returned to the U.S. Sgt Beason was honorably discharged from the Army on October 4, 1945.

Soldier's Creed:

I am an American Soldier.

I am a warrior and a member of a team.

I serve the people of the United States, and live the Army Values.

I will always place the mission first.

I will never accept defeat.

I will never quit.

I will never leave a fallen comrade.

I am disciplined, physically and mentally tough, trained and proficient in my warrior tasks and drills.

I always maintain my arms, my equipment and myself.

I am an expert and I am a professional.

I stand ready to deploy, engage, and destroy, the enemies of the United States of America in close combat.

I am a guardian of freedom and the American way of life.

I am an American Soldier.