Captain Bean was the pilot of a F4U-4 Corsair fighter with the Marine Fighter Squadron 212, Marine Air Group 33, 1st Marine Air Wing. On 21 November 1950, while on a combat mission, his engine failed and he ditched the aircraft about 300 yards off shore in the Sea of Japan. He was listed as Missing in Action and was presumed dead on 31 December 1953. His name is inscribed on the Courts of the Missing at the Honolulu Memorial.

For his leadership and valor, Captain Bean was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross with Gold Star, the Air Medal with 5 Gold Stars, the Purple Heart with Gold Star, the Combat Action Ribbon, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal.