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Jack Maurice
Beringer was born at Tripler General Hospital, Honolulu, HI, on 6 Sep 1928,
to COL Lester E. Beringer, M.D., and Winifred Rothrock Beringer. Over the next
several years, the Beringer family “followed the flag” to Walter Reed General
Hospital, Fitzsimmons General Hospital, and Ft. Huachuca, AZ, (with Jack
attending a one-room schoolhouse in Tombstone) and Camp Claiborne, LA.
In August 1941,
anticipating the gathering storm, Jack and his mother returned to her hometown
in Longmont, CO. Subsequently, in January 1942, Jack’s father took the 19th
Station Hospital to Ireland, in the first overseas troop deployment of World War
II. Jack attended Longmont High School and graduated in 1945. He enjoyed his
high school experience and participated in several sports, excelling in track.
His senior year his team placed third at State, and Jack made All-State in the
220 and 440 yard events.
At age 17, Jack
enlisted in the Army Air Corps. His enlisted service included attendance at the
USMAPS at Stewart Field, NY, which heightened his interest in West Point. He
qualified for entry and received an appointment for the following year. After
Jack’s discharge, he returned to Colorado Springs, where his father was hospital
commander at Camp Carson. While waiting, Jack attended Colorado College, joined
the Phi Delta Theta fraternity, and participated in track, where he won his
numerals. His life-long love of ice hockey was born at this small private
college, a powerhouse of the NCAA.
Jack was assigned
to Cadet Company M-2 and graduated with the Class of 1954 as an Armor officer.
As a cadet, he quickly established himself as a wise and accomplished leader,
ready to help other cadets transition into the military way of life and in
making their personal and career choices. Jack’s judgment and maturity earned
him the title of “Jack, the Elder.”
During graduation
leave in Colorado, Jack met Joan Forester Self, an Army daughter. Their
courtship developed and continued while he attended the Armor Officer Basic
Course and Airborne School. Jack joined his first organization, the 11th Armored
Cavalry Regiment, as a Cavalryman and loved it. After obtaining a short leave
from the regiment, Jack and Joan were married on 12 Mar 1955 in the Shove
Memorial Chapel at Colorado College.
In July 1956, Jack
began a three-year tour with the 14th Armored Cavalry Regiment in Fulda,
Germany, and Joan joined him in October. With the many friends they made and the
busy duty schedule, including border duty along the “Iron Curtain,” Jack and
Joan considered the three years in Germany among the most enjoyable of their
Army career. During 1959–60, Jack was a student at the Armor Officer Advanced
Course at Ft. Knox, KY.
Jack’s next
assignment (1960–1963) was a three year tour to USMAPS at Ft. Belvoir, VA. In
1963, he was assigned to Korea as the Secretary to the General Staff , Korean
Military Assistance Group and the First Republic of Korea Army, with which he
was very impressed. Next, it was Command and General Staff College at Ft.
Leavenworth, KS (1964–1965). His Korean counterpart joined him there, adding to
the enjoyment of the year and their continuing friendship.
Jack then returned
to Ft. Knox for a short period before leaving for Viet Nam in December 1965. His
first assignment as Armored Cavalry Advisor at MACV was followed by a rewarding
assignment at the Republic of Viet Nam Military Academy. January 1967 found Jack
and Joan in Norfolk, VA, with Jack a student at the Armed Forces Staff College.
Their next assignment was to the Pentagon for a tour with Armor Branch and the
first addition to the family, their son, Jack Lester “Luke,” born in March 1968.
In 1969, the
Beringer family moved to Ft. Lewis, WA, where Jack commanded the 3rd Squadron,
3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment. This tour saw the second addition to the family,
daughter Laura Joan, born in July 1970. After his command tour, the family
returned to Ft. Leavenworth, where Jack was assigned to Combat Developments
Command. The assignment included a great deal of travel and a year as Secretary
to the General Staff. Jack’s last assignment was as Chief, Armor Branch, Main
Battle Tank Task Force. The first signs of serious problems with his health
began at Ft. Leavenworth, contributing to his decision to retire in 1974, in the
rank of lieutenant colonel.
The family retired
to Ft. Collins, CO, where Jack started a master’s degree program and accepted an
administrative position with Colorado State University. In 1976, he underwent
his first life-saving heart bypass surgery, with a second operation in 1991.
Jack took up oil painting, genealogy, radio-controlled airplanes and serious
running. His love of track and field events provided an opportunity to become an
official with the U.S. Track & Field Federation. He was Head Finish Judge for
all CSU track and cross country championship meets, to include the WAC
conference championships. The 18 years at Ft. Collins were most enjoyable,
especially for raising their young children.
When their
children finished college, Jack and Joan returned to Colorado Springs. Despite
two by-pass surgeries, cancer and emphysema, Jack and Joan continued an active
retirement with vacation trips and visits with family and friends. They also
hosted and co-hosted many Cadet Company M-2 reunions in conjunction with
Army-Air Force games. On one occasion, Jack was chairman for a very successful
Army-Air Force game mini-reunion of the entire Class of ’54.
Jack’s health
problems, however, proved to be more than even the most determined individual
could handle. A massive heart attack placed him on the other side of the Long
Gray Line on 21 Mar 2007. Jack is survived by his wife and children, Luke and
Laura, and granddaughter Carrie Joan.
“Jack the Elder”
always will be remembered as a devoted husband and father, a steadfast friend,
and a loyal soldier to whom the words “Duty, Honor, Country” were a way of life.
“Stack Arms, Parade Rest.”
—M-2
classmate
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