Army Sgt. 1st Class Aaron
Beckman, a member of American Legion Post 270 in Venango, Neb., is one of
two winners for the Army’s 2009 Best Warrior Competition in Fort Lee, Va. He
was also named Non-Commissioned Officer of the Year.
The other “Best Warrior” is Spc.
Clancey Henderson, who was also named Soldier of the Year. The awards were
made Oct. 5 after a grueling six-day competition that included weapons
firing, daytime and nighttime navigation, and a written exam and essay.
Beckman has been a member of
Post 270 for 14 years and a Sons of The American Legion member for 21 years.
His father, Dwight, served in the Army and is also a member of Post 270. He
now farms land about five miles north of Venango, along the
Nebraska-Colorado border.
Post 270 Commander Randy Busch
has been a friend of the Beckman family for years. “I watched Aaron grow up
and pretty much became a second father. He grew into an outstanding young
man and his leadership in the Army – his advancements – really show his
character.”
An Army veteran himself, Busch
said he first learned of Beckman’s “Best Warrior” achievement from a local
radio station. “I was very proud of him when I heard that and started
e-mailing all my veteran friends so they could share the pride of The
American Legion in a small community.”
Bush said that Venango has a
population of about 200, and the Legion post has 65 members.
