Sidney Carl Beinke

Sidney Carl Beinke was born on May 22, 1917 in St. Louis, Missouri. He attended Cleveland High School in Seattle, Washington, where he participated in track and was a member of the stage crew and Boys' Club all four years. Beinke initially attended the University of Washington after graduating from high school in 1935, but quickly switched to Washington State College (WSC). He was a member of Phi Sigma at WSC, a national biological research fraternity, an served as the organization's president for one semester. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Botany on June 3, 1940, and went to work for the U.S. Department of Agriculture as a AAA range specialist until his enlistment in the United States Marine Corp in the fall of 1942. Beinke initially served as an enlisted man but achieved the rank of First Lieutenant in July 1944.  He was killed in action at Peleliu in the Palau Islands on October 3, 1944. He received a Presidential Unit Citation (PUC) with a ribbon bar; a posthumous letter of commendation from W.H. Rupertus, Major General, U.S. Marine Corps, Commanding First Marine Division, Fleet Marine Force; and the Silver Star Medal. He is buried at Evergreen-Washelli Memorial Park in Seattle.