Gill Beck Promoted to Brigadier General

Article Date: Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Written By: Russell Rawlings

Lt. Gen. Black introduces Brig. Gen. Gil Beck.

ARLINGTON, VA. (12/19/08) – Gill Beck, an assistant U.S. attorney who serves on the Board of Governors of the North Carolina Bar Association, was promoted today to the rank of brigadier general in the U.S. Army Reserves.

 

In ceremonies held at Fort Myer, Brig. Gen. Beck was also installed as Chief Judge (IMA) of the U.S. Army Court of Criminal Appeals. The IMA distinction, which stands for individual mobilization augmentee, stipulates that Beck will assume the duties of the chief judge when the individual serving in that capacity is deployed.

 

Lt. Gen. Scott C. Black, judge advocate general, conducted the promotion ceremony. Brig. Gen. Clyde J. Tate Jr., who currently serves as chief judge of the Court of Criminal Appeals, conducted the robbing ceremony and administration of oath to Chief Judge (IMA) Beck.

 

Assisting in both ceremonies were Beck’s wife, Mary Jo, and sons Gill II and Joshua. Numerous members of their family were also in attendance, including the day’s most distinguished guest, Robert Bailey.

 

Bailey, the father of Mary Jo Beck, received the Silver Star in special ceremonies preceding the promotion of his son-in-law. The distinction, to say the least, was long overdue.

 

Bailey, 87, resides in Hendersonville, N.C. Sixty-three years ago, while serving in the U.S. Army in Germany during World War II, 2nd Lt. Bailey and a group of men he was leading were ambushed.

 

He came to the rescue of one of those men, Cpl. Carl DeBoard, and saved his life. In the aftermath of these events, during which Bailey was injured severely, several men were awarded the Silver Star but Bailey, for reasons no one could ever figure out, only received the Bronze Star.

 

It took several years for family members to right this wrong, but their efforts paid off Friday when Robert Bailey was duly honored. Cpl. DeBoard traveled from Pennsylvania to witness the occasion.

 

The emotional reunion marked the first time the two had seen each other since the fateful events of March 19, 1945.

 

In accepting his promotion, Beck stated that the honors bestowed upon his father-in-law that day meant more to him than the recognition he had received. Anyone who knows Beck will know that he meant this.

 

The recognition Beck received continues a distinguished path of service which has marked his career at every turn. Better yet, careers, for in addition to his duties in the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Beck has devoted some 30 years of service to the U.S. Army and the Army Reserve.

 

His Army Reserve tenure includes two tours of duty in Iraq, where Beck has served as a JAG officer. Beck first deployed in January 2005, at which time he relinquished his duties as chair of the NCBA’s Government and Public Sector Section.

 

While still deployed, the section honored Beck as the 2005 recipient of its Outstanding Government and Public Sector Attorney Award.

 

A native of Lenoir, Beck received his undergraduate degree in 1978 from Appalachian State University, where he majored in English and graduated second in his class. ASU has chosen Beck to receive its highest alumni honor, the Distinguished Alumni Award, next year.

 

After graduating from Appalachian State, Beck joined the U.S. Army. He earned a scholarship to attend Duke Law School and entered the Army JAG Corps. He received his law degree from Duke in 1985.

Lt. Gen. Black presents Silver Star to Robert Bailey. From left, Mary Jo Beck, Gill Beck and Carl DeBoard look on.