Rep. Anna Paulina Luna Re-Presents Legion of Merit to Captain Stanley Beach

Washington, D.C. — On Monday, Congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna (FL-13) formally re-presented the Legion of Merit to retired U.S. Navy Captain Stanley Beach after helping correct his military record to officially reflect the award he received upon his retirement from the Navy in 1987.

Captain Beach served 30 years in the Navy, including 27 years in the Chaplain Corps and service alongside Marines in Vietnam. His distinguished career earned him recognition as a “living legend” within the Chaplain Corps. Decades after his retirement, he discovered that the Legion of Merit had never been recorded on his DD-214. Rep. Luna worked with the Department of the Navy to correct his record and secure a DD-215 formally adding the award.

“Captain Beach spent nearly three decades serving our country, and his military record should reflect every honor he earned,” said Rep. Luna. “Correcting this decades-old omission is the least our nation owes him for his service and sacrifice, and I am grateful my office could help make it happen.”

Captain Beach’s son, Police Chief Randall Beach, hosted the ceremony and credited Rep. Luna and her office with helping resolve the issue on his father’s behalf. “What really made this happen was the leadership of Representative Anna Paulina Luna and her staff,” said Beach. “You cannot do this without Congress. It matters!”
  
A DD-214 is the primary separation document issued to service members and records key details of their military service, including decorations and awards. A DD-215, formally known as a Correction to DD Form 214, is issued when information on that original separation record must later be corrected or added. Unlike the DD-214, it is not routinely issued to veterans, making it a comparatively uncommon document that reflects a formal amendment to an existing military record. 

Captain Beach enlisted as a Sailor in 1953 and entered the Chaplain Corps in 1960. After volunteering to serve with Marines in Vietnam, he joined the 3rd Marine Division and later served with 3rd Battalion, 4th Marines at Phu Bai and during intense fighting at Mutter’s Ridge. While under enemy fire, Beach ministered to wounded Marines and carried them to aid stations before sustaining severe injuries to his leg and stomach that required his own evacuation.

For his actions in Vietnam, Beach received the Bronze Star with Valor, the Purple Heart, and the Navy Commendation Medal with Combat “V.” He later served as Director of the Navy Chaplains School and received the David E. White Leadership Award in 2007. In 2012, and the Naval Chaplaincy School and Center named its building Stanley J. Beach Hall in recognition of his heroic service with 3rd Battalion, 4th Marines during the Vietnam War.

Rep. Luna re-presented the Legion of Merit to Captain Beach at Freedom Square in Seminole alongside local officials and members of the community.

###

Office of Congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna

(202) 225-5961 | David.leatherwood@mail.house.gov

Follow updates at luna.house.gov