Hello, this is David Beetem. He was a veteran of our nation with service in the US Army. He passed on February 13th. He passed from cancer. I am in need of help with funeral expenses. Donations are greatly appreciated. May God bless him and all of you.

David was born in May 1948 to Mary Spradling. He has 5 brothers and 1 sister. Dad raised 2 daughters and one son. I affectionately called him Pops. Dad had 7 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.

David was a Warrant Officer in the Army. He flew AH-64 Apaches. He retired from the Army in 1987. He was recalled to serve in Desert Storm. He had several awards, including the Meritorious Service Medal. Dad enjoyed the military very much and was extremely proud when I joined the Army in 1993. We almost got to serve at the same time.

Daddy had colon cancer in his early 40s. He beat it and went into remission. Almost 3 weeks ago, we learned that Dad once again had cancer. This time it had metastasized to his liver, lungs, pancreas, and kidneys. It took approximately two weeks to discover the depth of how far the cancer spread. He was placed on hospice this past Monday and died on Thursday. It was much faster than I thought it would be.

Some people may wonder why, as my father was a veteran, I am seeking donations. Well, that’s a sad tale. You see, like my father, I was under the belief that when a serviceman serves his country honorably, the funeral is taken care of. This is, as I am finding out, untrue. The VA will reimburse up to $900. Social Security will chip in $250. The funeral expenses are due upfront, and they are immense.

I am asking for your generosity in helping lay my father to rest. Any help is truly appreciated.