Talk:Charles Alvin Beckwith

name is too common to hold charles_beckwith url location on the site
I was about to create an entry for fashion photographer Charles Beckwith. The name Charles Beckwith is fairly common. There is even another Col. Charles Beckwith who was in Vietnam. I recommend changing this entry to Charles_Alvin_Beckwith to make it easier to search for the others. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Lex0nyc (talk • contribs) 16:20, 10 January 2008 (UTC)
 * Sounds good, just make sure to disambiguate properly, and follow up on incoming links and redirects. Thanks! -- mordel (talk) 16:54, 11 January 2008 (UTC)

Uniform Pic of Captain Beckwith
The uniform is an old "Khaki" version- used up till late 1970's. The small areas of cloth, on what I believe are called epilauts are actually Green "Leadership Tabs". That is anyone in a "Leadership" position wore the Green Tabs,(small green pieces of cloth) under the Unit Crest present. The lack of decorations, except Jump Wings is indicative of "Hard Charging" Leaders who didn't wear every little BS decoration, ie. Good Conduct Award, etc. Looks like Captain's bars on this photo, so He hadn't won many of his awards as of yet, when this pic was taken. Very early 60's, to say the least. SFDoc434. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Sfdoc434 (talk • contribs) 06:55, 31 August 2008 (UTC)

Uniform Notes
Beckwith is clearly a Captain in this picture. Previous notes about Khaki Uniform and leadership tabs are correct. On his Basic Parachutist Badge (Jump Wings). It would also indicate the beginning of his career. From this photo it is hard to tell, but it is possible that the 'wings' do have a star on top but not a star and wreath. It would indicate that he was Jump Master qualified, with more than 13 parachute jumps and less than 65. It has long been a tradition of the 82nd Airborne that Company Commanders be Jump Master qualified as a requirement to holding a Company Command. Having that number of jumps AND Jump Master Qualification is very much compatible with an early career as an officer on 'Jump Status'.

The cloth 'oval' background is from 1st Battalion 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment (at the time and currently) part of 82nd Airborne Division. Also on the left lapel, cross rifles, Branch designation for Infantry with the numbers "504" for the 504th Infantry Regiment. At the time it was common to see the specific regiment attached to the 'Branch'. It largely fell out of use after WWII until the late 1990's, and has recently become commonplace on BDU and Class A uniforms, until the adoption of the ACU uniform. I am not sure if it continues in practice on dress uniforms.

Just to clarify, this particular uniform, was not worn with all decorations. Since the creation of US Army Airborne units, the semi-dress uniform, was not authorized to have ribbons or medals but required the basics of what you see in this photo - Rank, Branch Insignia, (Leadership Tabs, green felt underneath) the Regiment of assignment, in this case the 504th PIR. On the 'Jacket' is where the ribbons for actual medals would have been.

Being a Captain with Leadership Tabs, it is likely that this picture was taken during one of Beckwith's two Company Commands in the 504th, which Command is unclear.

With all that said, since this was probably at the very beginning of his career, there would not have been any awards to speak of. While it is true that many of the 'soldier's soldier' types, Charlie was likely one, this type of uniform does not indicate that was true or not true.

(DP - Sep 2010) —Preceding unsigned comment added by Dark41 (talk • contribs) 11:15, 8 September 2010 (UTC)

Suggest Correcting Name in Title of Article
Would it be possible to change the name of this article from "Charles Alvin Beckwith" to "Charlie Alvin Beckwith?" Colonel Beckwith's name was actually "Charlie," not "Charles." The link to this article is being passed around on Facebook, and the incorrect name in the title is drawing critique from those who knew him well. Thanks! ElwoodStihl (talk) 23:46, 16 June 2022 (UTC)