Land to water and back again, Navy Seal hangs up frogman suit
By Sandy Miller
Times-News writer

TWIN FALLS -- More than anything, they wanted to be Navy Seals.

But most of them didn't survive the fifth week of the six-month-long Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL training course. You see, the fifth week is "Hell Week." From Sunday through Saturday, the Seal hopefuls are put through a grueling test of physical and mental endurance, running obstacle courses while carrying boats over their heads, swimming against the current off the San Diego coast, free falling out of airplanes.

Out of the 226 Navy men who entered BUD/S Training Class 54 in 1970, only 48 graduated. Jerome native Donald Beem was one of them.

"Everyday, you're muddy, wet, tired and cold," Beem said. "You get four hours of sleep the whole week." Beem said his favorite part of training was free falling. "They take you up to 10,000 feet with a parachute," Beem said. "You jump out and free fall 7,000 feet."

What was he thinking as he sailed through the sky?

"I hope everything works out OK," he said. Beem's secret to survival was simple. "You just never give up," he said.

Today, after 38 years of naval service that included two tours of Vietnam, two tours in the Western Pacific, and combat missions to El Salvador, Beirut and Afghanistan, Beem, chief of staff for Naval Special Warfare Command in Coronado, Calif., is retiring.

A farm boy, Beem grew up on a farm east of Jerome, where his parents, Truman and Ruby Beem, grew beets, hay and grain.

"He was a good kid -- a typical kid," said his mother, Ruby. "We were always proud of him." Was there any hint of his Navy Seal potential early on? "They swam in the canals," his mother said. "He never swam in the ocean until he went in the service."

Beem said it was a great place to grow up. When his farm chores were done, he'd grab his fishing pole and head for the nearest stream.

"I love Jerome," Beem said. "I had a good time growing up in a nice, small town. I fished when I could. I had great friends."

In high school, there was the occasional dance and party, and dragging Main Street on Friday nights.

After graduating from Jerome High School in 1966, he took some general courses at the College of Southern Idaho and worked at the old Safeway store. A magazine article on Navy Seals caught his eye.

"I always liked that kind of stuff," he said.

So one day in 1968, he stopped to talk to a Navy recruiter. "At the time, the Seals were doing a great job in Vietnam and there was an effort to increase the numbers," Beem said. "You were guaranteed a chance to get in."

After graduating from BUD/S training, Beem did two tours of Vietnam and two in the Western Pacific. Then he returned to BUD/S as an instructor. Twelve years after enlisting, Beem, who had been selected as a chief petty officer, finished his bachelor of science degree from Southern Illinois University and was commissioned as an ensign. As an officer, Beem served with various SEAL teams during deployments to the Caribbean, Central America, Europe and the Middle East. He rose further through the ranks to command two Naval Special Warfare Units in Puerto Rico and Spain. He eventually served in multiple positions at the U.S. Special Operations Command, including deputy director of the Special Operations War on Terrorism Branch and deputy director of the Operations and Plans Branch. One of his most recent missions was to Afghanistan shortly after 9-11.

His sparkling career included humanitarian work as well. He helped clear channels and canals for small fishing villages in the world's poorest countries and delivered supplies to remote areas.

His career spanned five decades and eight presidencies, more than any other frogman currently serving in the Naval Special Warfare Community, earning him the coveted title of "Bull Frog" in 2005, according to the office of the Naval Special Warfare Command. His honors include the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star, and Meritorious Service Medal to name just a few.

For now, Beem plans to spend some quality time with his wife, Sidney, and children, Jeff, Heather and Nate and their families on the their 30-acre spread in Chesapeake, Va. Then he plans to go back to work.

"I'm going to enjoy retirement for a few months, then get some kind of contracting job working with special operations forces as a civilian," Beem said.

Visit www.navyseals.com for an extensive archive on Special Operations related article and stories.

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