Staff Sergeant Beard was a gunner/technician of an all weather bomber, RB-36H, with the 718th Squadron, 28th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing based at Rapid City Air Force Base, South Dakota. On 18 March 1953, his aircraft was flying low on a simulated combat mission from Lajes, Azores to Rapid City when it struck a 896 foot hill, killing all 23 on board.

Beard was awarded the National Defense Service Medal.