Quilt of Valor - honoring a veteran

Plains man Richard Beller, who recently turned 93 years old, is one of many within Sanders County who fought proudly for flag and country.

Bueller was recently gifted with a handmade quilt from the Joint Operation Mariposa local chapter.

“I feel happy about it,” said Beller when asked how he felt about the gift of thanks for his service to his country.

Beller spent one year, 10 months and 11 days in combat as part of the 82nd Airborne Division under James Gaven.

He told of his story as he was there when they invaded France, there to stop the German’s from taking anymore then what they had already done.

“They wouldn’t let me jump. The solider next to me, sitting right to my side took a bullet and he was gone,” he said of his recounts.

He further told his story of bravery and hardships, but, it was his love for his country and what it stood for that saw him become more than just a solider.

Beller recounted the days that he fought and the days he took many jobs some of which included protecting ammunition from the enemy until more troops arrived.

He also spoke of the day he remembered when he took out a female German sniper. Saying it was lucky he got the sniper before she got him. The sniper was perched high above him and it could have easily gone the other way.

He also said that due to his uncanny skills with a gun, or perhaps it was his bringing up here in Northwest Montana that proved to be the X-factor of his training. Bueller, with a smile as he recounted his days, said he was known as the guy who was grease lightening with a gun, even being referenced to that of Billy the Kid.

Nonetheless, the cattleman from Plains says he life has been full of great adventures starting in childhood as he rode through the mountains on his horse with his dad as a young boy.

Now as the cooler weather comes in, Bueller can hold some warmth in a handmade quilt knowing there are many out there thank him for his service to his flag and country.