Thanks for your inspiring and moving comments.
You might be interested to know (I didn’t explain this in the blog post, but “here it is now”…) that I discovered Lt. Beck’s book “at random” quite a number of years ago, at a used bookstore. I read it very soon thereafter, and two aspects of Lt. Beck’s story immediately became apparent:
First, the very quality of his writing, shown in his clarity of expression and observations of the “larger world” around him.
Second, on a different level, he really seems to have had a solid premonition about his future, and the long-term implications of the effects of that future – of not surviving and returning – upon his parents and friends. And even if this was not the case, by simply documenting his experiences and ensuring that his writing would survive any eventuality, he realized the importance of recording his experiences simply for the sake of history; for posterity.
Though “fate” never allowed his literary skill to blossom in the fullness of time, at least that skill was used for a noble and memorable purpose.
In terms of a museum to which to donate Lt. Beck’s memorabilia, I can suggest three possibilities. (I haven’t asked them about this beforehand, it’s just that these names pop into my mind at random) If they don’t want to acquire Lt. Beck’s memorabilia, maybe they can suggest and organization that would. Just an idea…
They are:
1) National Museum of the United States Air Force
https://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/
Donate an item:
https://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/Collections/Donate-an-Item/
2) The National World War Two Museum (New Orleans) (Maybe your best choice??? – Based on the Lt. Beck’s biographical profile at FindAGrave, they already have a copy of the book.)
https://www.nationalww2museum.org/
Donate an Artifact
https://www.nationalww2museum.org/give/other-ways-support-museum/donate-artifact
3) United States Air Force Academy
https://www.usafa.edu/
McDermott Library:
https://www.usafa.edu/facilities/library/
I’m glad Lt. Beck’s writings have survived across these nearly eight (!) decades.
I’m glad to have created the blog post about Lt. Beck.
Thanks very much for visiting my blog.
Regards,
Michael