More detail on this person: Maj. Gen. Roger K. Bean (US Army, retired) was born on July 17, 1940
in Yakima, Washington to the late Art and Hazel Bean. He passed away on June 13, 2009 in Tomah,
Wis. after a 30-year battle with Parkinson's disease. He graduated from Cheney High School, class of
1958. Commissioned through ROTC, he graduated from Eastern Washington State College in 1962 and
went on to earn his Master's Degree in International Relations from the University of Alabama. He
later graduated from the Air War College. Gen. Bean's distinguished 32-year Army career included
multiple duty stations throughout the U.S., Asia, and Germany. This included two combat tours in
Vietnam as a helicopter pilot, two assignments at the Pentagon, Commander of Division Artillery and
Chief of Staff of the 3rd Infantry Division, Commanding General of the 56th Field Artillery Command
(Pershing), and Deputy Commanding General of US Army Pacific. During Desert Storm, General Bean
was Acting Commanding General of VII Corps.
Gen. Bean's valiant service to his country was recognized with decorations including the
Distinguished Service Medal with first oak leaf cluster, the Legion of Merit with first oak leaf
cluster, the Distinguished Flying Cross with first oak leaf cluster, the Bronze Star, the Purple
Heart with first oak leaf cluster, the Meritorious Service Medal with first oak leaf cluster, 47 Air
Medals, three with valor, and the Army Commendation Medal with third oak leaf cluster.
Roger's love for his country was second only to his love and dedication to his family. He is
survived by his wife of 42 years, Criss (Cornell) Bean of Fond du Lac, Wis.. He is also survived by
his daughters and sons-in-law, Shannon and Marty Olson of Wausau Wis.; and Sarah and Jeff Brady of
Maple Valley, Wash.; by his four beloved grandchildren, Eric and Tim Olson and Ryan and Lulu Brady;
and by his sister and brother-in-law Sue and Cliff Ferguson of Cheney, Wash.
Roger was known for his quick wit, fearlessness, and love of adventure. All who knew him knew of his
love for flying, whether it was helicopters, powered parachutes, or gliders. He embraced life with
high expectations and led each step of the way by example. Roger loved to be the solver of problems
and the helper of those in need. He accomplished any task at hand with passion, whether it was
leading his troops or snow blowing the neighborhood at the crack of dawn. Roger's reputation for
"accomplishing more before 8 a.m. than most people got done all day" was one of which he was proud.
It has been commented by the soldiers that served closely under him that General Bean's leadership
style brought out in them the desire to perform their duties in a manner that went far beyond the
standards required. Rooted in the ultimate form of respect, their desire was to perform in a way
that would never cause General Bean to become disappointed in them or ever let him down in anyway.
It is that type of rare leadership that has made a significant difference in America's military
history.
Gen. Bean will be buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, D.C.
Burial information: Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, VA
This information was last updated 05/18/2016
Please send additions or corrections to: HQ@vhpa.org VHPA Headquarters
Return to the Helicopter Pilot DAT name list
Return to VHPA web site
Date posted on this site: 01/11/2025
Copyright © 1998 - 2024 Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association