Vietnam War Medal of Honor Recipient. He received the award from President Richard M. Nixon at the White House on October 15, 1973 for his actions as a combat medic sergeant on April 1, 1970 with with Company B of the 5th Special Forces Group, 1st Special Forces, at Camp Dak Seang, Kon Tum Province, South Vietnam. He joined the US Army in August 1967 and following his basic training, he trained to become a combat medic with the Special Forces. In July 1969 he was assigned to Camp Dak Seang, South Vietnam and the following year his unit was engaged in a battle with superior North Vietnamese forces for which he was awarded the Medal of Honor. He was eventually evacuated by helicopter from the battle and spent six months recovering at the Valley Forge Medical Center in Norristown, Pennsylvania, and discharged from the Army the following year. His Medal of Honor citation reads: "For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Sgt. Beikirch, medical aidman, Detachment B-24, Company B, distinguished himself during the defense of Camp Dak Seang. The allied defenders suffered a number of casualties as a result of an intense, devastating attack launched by the enemy from well-concealed positions surrounding the camp. Sgt. Beikirch, with complete disregard for his personal safety, moved unhesitatingly through the withering enemy fire to his fallen comrades, applied first aid to their wounds and assisted them to the medical aid station. When informed that a seriously injured American officer was lying in an exposed position, Sgt. Beikirch ran immediately through the hail of fire. Although he was wounded seriously by fragments from an exploding enemy mortar shell, Sgt. Beikirch carried the officer to a medical aid station. "Ignoring his own serious injuries, Sgt. Beikirch left the relative safety of the medical bunker to search for and evacuate other men who had been injured. He was again wounded as he dragged a critically injured Vietnamese soldier to the medical bunker while simultaneously applying mouth-to-mouth resuscitation to sustain his life. Sgt. Beikirch again refused treatment and continued his search for other casualties until he collapsed. Only then did he permit himself to be treated. Sgt. Beikirch's complete devotion to the welfare of his comrades, at the risk of his life are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit on him, his unit, and the U.S. Army." Among his other decorations and awards include the Silver Star, the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart (with one oak leaf cluster), the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Cross of Gallantry (with silver star),and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal. Following his military service, attended White Mountain Seminary in New Hampshire and worked as a pastor and received a master's degree in counseling.