Sergeant Fred Allen Beese

Manning Monitor September 24, 1942
Fred Beese, War Prisoner, Writes
With mingled emotions of relief and surprise, Mr. and Mrs. Hans Beese of south of Manning recently received a letter bearing a Japanese postmark and written by their son Fred which is the first word they have received from him since his time of service on Wake Island. The letter follows:
Fred A. Beese,
Shanghai War-Prisoner's Camp, Japanese Field Office No. 106 Central China.
Barracks No. 1.
Dearest Family:
This is the first opportunity I've had to write and let you know that I am well and in as healthy a condition as can be expected. I was taken prisoner on Wake Island and am now interned in Central China. I hope this letter finds all of you in good health. Please don't worry about me. Answer this letter immediately. We spend our time working in gardens. Tell everyone hello. My Bunkie out here is Gene Fleener, who enlisted with me in Des Moines. Mr. Harry C. Fleener is his father, from Kellogg, Iowa. Write them a letter. I'll close now hoping to be with you soon. Don't worry about me.
With all my love, Fred.

Manning Monitor articles ------ 1943

Hans Beese Hear From Son In Shanghi Prisoner Camp
Mr. and Mrs. Hans Beese this week received a letter from their daughter, Mrs. IIa Beese Lindquist of Ames, which she had received from her brother Pfc. Fred A. Beese. Fred, a marine was captured on Wake Island in the early stages of the war.
His parents received word from him a year ago Sept. 25th and heard nothing, until now.
Mrs. Lindquist's letter was dated January 3, 1943 Shanghi War-prisoner's Camp, and reads as follows:
Dearest Sister IIa: The Japanese authorities have given us permission to write to our people. I received your letter dated April 1942. Thanks very much for the picture, it was swell of you.

"I was sure surprised to hear of your marriage, I want to congratulate you and wish much happiness to both of you.
"Please don't worry about me as I am in good health and hope to see you in the very near future.

"We had a very merry Christmas, much more happier than the last. "Harland Johnson is in my barracks. I have known him for some time. Well Sis. I will close now hoping for more mail from you soon. Good luck and happiness to you both. All my love,
Fred
(Harland Johnson is a friend of the Lindquists, and is a prisoner of war also.)

Fred Beese Writes From Jap Prison Camp
June 23, 1943 Dear Mother: Hoping this finds you as it leaves me. That is in the best of health. We have just received the news that another Red Cross shipment will arrive soon bringing wool clothing, medical supplies, and more food boxes like we had last winter.
Summer is here already and we are indulging in quite a few sports activities mainly baseball and volleyball. Our library ins in a pretty good shape as yet and I have been reading quite a bit as of late.
Give my regards to home and elsewhere.
Fred
Mr. and Mrs. Fred Beese received the above card on Tuesday, Dec. 14, from their son Fred, a marine who was taken prisoner off Wake Island, early in the war.

Manning Monitor articles ------ 1944

Writes From Jap Prison Camp
Pfc. Fred Beese, taken prisoner off Wake Island by the Japs, early in the war, writes as follows to his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Hans Beese: Shanghai War-Prisoner's Camp Pfc. Fred A. Beese, USMC, Barracks 1, Section 2. 5 September, 1943
Mr. Hans Beese, Manning, Iowa, U. S. A.
Dearest Parents:
"The Japanese authorities have given us permission to write home again, so I have taken this opportunity to write you.

"At the present date, I am it good health and getting along as well as can be expected. "I have received four letters at the present date and would certainly like to get some more. How is everything at home now? Is Merlin still home? Is Alice and Ila married. It looks as if I'll come last this time.
"Well, everybody, good luck and good cheer to all of you. Please don't worry about me. I'm OK.
With love, Fred
This letter was received January 8th.

Fred Beese Writes From War Prisoner Camp at Shanghai
Mr. and Mrs. Hans Beese have received another letter from their son, Fred, who is a prisoner of war of the Japs in a Shanghai prison camp.
His letter, just received, was dated February 6th. Fred was with the Marines on the Island of Wake when it fell into Jap hands.
The letter follows:
From Fred A. Beese, Bks. I Section II
Shanghai War-Prisoner's Camp, February 6, 1944.
To Mrs. Hans Beese,
Manning Iowa. Dearest Mother and all:
Have been given permission to write home so have taken this opportunity to write to you. Received your letter dated March '43 with 5 pictures enclosed, thanks very much.
Part of the letter was blacked out so I don't know what else you sent. How is everybody at home? I am getting along as well as can be expected. I weigh 148 now.
The weather is quite wet and cold now. Have you sent me any packages? Quite a few of the boys have received them. Don't worry about me, please. Just get that old kitchen and farm ready for me when I get back.
Well, will close now, wishing you all good luck. Lots of love.
Your son and brother, Fred A. Beese.

RECEIVE ANOTHER LETTER FROM PRISONER BEESE
Mr. and Mrs. Hans Beese have received another letter from their son, Fred, war prisoner in Shanghai, dated April 10, 1944, which stated as follows:
"We had a very good Easter this year. We are receiving Red Cross food parcels now, and really enjoying American cigarettes, coffee and food.
All of us are getting along fine. I am in good health Don't wary about me, please."

Manning Monitor articles ------ 1945

Receive News From Prisoner Son In China
Mr. and Mrs. Hans Beese report that two cards have recently been received from their son, Fred, a prisoner of war in a Japanese camp in Shanghai China.
Mr. and Mrs. Beese received a card dated July 12th, 1944, stating that he was well and getting along fine.

Fred's brother, Merlin, and wife also received a card dated August 8, 1944, congratulating them on their marriage and sending his regards to all his friends here.

Parents Receive Letter from Fred Beese, Prisoner of Japs
Mr. and Mrs. Hans Beese have received a letter from their son, Fred, who is a prisoner of war of the Japanese. The letter, dated September, 1944, follows:
Dearest Family:
"Received letter dated April, '44. Glad to hear everyone OK. I am in good health. Please don't worry about me. Please tell all people who write to me that correspondence is limited so every opportunity I have to write, I write home, making it impossible to write all those who write to me.
I do appreciate their letters very much, and am very sorry I cannot answer them.

"Haven't received any package as yet. Please send pictures if possible. "My buddy received a letter pertaining to correspondence between mothers of different boys in this camp.
"Will close now wishing you all good health and happiness."
With love, Fred.
P. S.: Hope to see you soon. Get a job ready for me. Take care of yourselves.

First To Greet Fred Beese On Way Home Here
Mrs. Eden Renamed Officer Of State Postmasters
Mrs. Kathryn Eden, Manning postmaster, who was re-elected third state vice-president at the 1945 conference of the Iowa chapter of National Association of Postmasters, which was held at Hotel Fort Des Moines, Des Moines, Oct. 16, 17, 18, returned to Manning last Thursday.

She was the first Manning person to greet Fred Beese in Des Moines waiting for his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Hans Beese, to come for him. He had just been released from a Japanese prison, where he had been held captive since the fall of Wake island.
Wednesday night 400 postmasters, wives and husbands attended a banquet and grand march held following a floor show.
While in Des Moines, Mrs. Eden visited Mrs. Maude Stephany and Mrs. G. C. Beiter.

Fred A. Beese Funeral services for Fred Allen Beese were held at 11:00 a.m. September 2, 1994, at Bethesda Lutheran Church, Ames, Iowa. Pastor Dave Nerdig officiated the service with Mary Nelson as organist. Interment was held at Ames Municipal Cemetery with Gene Ballantone, Lavern Caruth, Steve Gaston, John Kellogg, Rick Ballantone, Michael Caruth, Steve Hedberg and Dennis Paysen as casketbearers.

Fred A. Beese was born in Audubon County, Iowa, on June 22, 1922, to Hans and Emma (Friedrichsen) Beese. He became a child of God through Baptism at a German Lutheran Church in Lincoln Township, Audubon County on December 9, 1923. He joined Bethesda Lutheran Church and confirmed his faith on December 5, 1948. He has been a member of Bethesda ever since.

Fred graduated from the Gray, Iowa, High School and joined the Marine Corps. He was serving on the Wake Island at the outbreak of World War II, where he was taken captive and held as a Prisoner of War for forty-four months.

Following the war he came to Ames where he has resided since 1946. On February 12, 1947, Fred married Virginia Voss in Kansas City, Missouri. Fred worked at the Ames Post Office and Hach Chemical Company until 1984 when he retired.

Fred was a member of the American Legion. He loved to garden. He loved to feed the birds and had an uncanny ability to "call them in." He was an oil painter and an accomplished woodworker.

Fred A. Beese died in his home of an apparent heart attack on August 30, 1994, at the age of 72 years, two months and two days.

He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Merlin.

Fred is survived by his wife, Virginia, of Ames; a son, Alan of Jewell; a daughter, Lynn Calame, of Salt Lake City, Utah; three grandchildren, Jennifer Marie Calame, Jeremiah Todd Calame, and Zachary Elijah Beese; and two sisters, Alice Kellogg and Ila Gaston, both of Ames.