Name: Army Spc. James L. Beckstrand Age: 27 From: Escondido, Calif. Assigned to 4th Battalion, 27th Field Artillery Regiment, 1st Armored Division, Baumholder, Germany one of eight soldiers Incident: Army Spc. James L. Beckstrand was killed April 29 by a car bomb as his unit was doing a dismounted improvised-explosive device-sweep in Baghdad. Died:
April
29, 2004
Beckstrand was born in Reno, Nev., and grew up in Escondido, Calif. He served in the Marine Corps from September 1995 to September 1999, then joined the Army in December 2000.
He is survived by his wife, Marilena, and his parents, J.L. Beckstrand and Kathleen Genoway.
Prayers & Condolences For: James L Beckstrand BY Anonymous on Sep 10, 2009
Wow. I dont know what to say. I was searching for Jimmy on Facebook...I didnt expect to find this.
He was one of my best (and most secret) friends when I was 11'ish. He was the "hot, older boy, from across the field." He being 3 years older than me was a little embarassed to be hanging out with such a youngster, and me? Well, I pretended boys were still "yucky."
Despite the pressures of adolescents, hewas always a kind, compassionate, gentleman. We spent hours playing in the creek where he taught me to catch crawdads, and days trying to teach my dog to attack on command like our favorite Escondido Police dog, "Bak." And when I turned 12 he gave me my first kiss. I can see in the picture, those same warm eyes that made my gangly akward knees shake.How we lost touch....who knows. I didnt expect it to be so permanent.
Im sorry to know one of my first friends has left this world. Perhaps one day when we meet up again, we can go down to the creek, catch some crawdads and just be kids again.
A time when bombs didnt exsist.Michelle CochranEscondido, CA
Prayers & Condolences For: James L Beckstrand BY John on Apr 09, 2008
May the grace of God, the love of Jesus, and the peace of the Holy Spirit be with you and your family forever.