Major Beal was a crew member of a B-29 Superfortress Bomber with the 345th Bomber Squadron, 98th Bomber Wing. On 14 October 1951, after returning from a combat mission, the aircraft crashed upon landing, killing nine crew members. His remains were recovered.

Beal was awarded the Purple Heart, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal.