This week’s Hometown Heroes features David and Beate Lies members of the VFW
Post #12102 in Walterboro. David is the Adjutant Quartermaster of the post and Beate is
the Auxiliary President.
Mr. Lies joined the U.S. Navy in 1981 and completed the training as a Nuclear
Machinist Mate. He then taught for three years at NPTU (Nuclear Power Training Unit)
in Windsor Locks, CT. David served on the USS Sea Devil SSN 664 in Charleston
for three years where he received a Navy Expeditionary Medal on a northern run and
earned his Dolphins (the submarine warfare insignia known informally as “dolphins.”).
Submariners earn their dolphins by demonstrating vast knowledge of all systems aboard
a submarine in a process call qualifying which is a requirement of submarine service.
Lies also was a classroom instructor at NPTU in Charleston. He then served on the USS
Batfish SSN 681 in Charleston and served in the Mediterranean during Desert Storm.
David left the Navy when the Naval Base in Charleston was closed and transferred to the
Batfish to Groton, CT. He was a Machinist Mate 1st Class (MM1/Subsurface qualified
(SS). In total David spent 13 years in the U.S. Navy, 6 of which were out at sea.
In 1985 while in Kiel, West Germany Lies met Beate who later became his wife, and
they have two sons together. Mrs. Beate came to the U.S. on the fiancé visa, and they
were married. However, unlike the tv program, “90 Day Fiancé” (at least what I have
seen of it) The Lies “make it work” and have been making it work for the last 37 years.
Beate gave the support and a place to come home to while David was at sea.
After the Navy, David went to work for HydroAire (now Hydor, Inc.) in Chicago and
has worked the past 31 years as a Technical Field Advisor where he provides technical
advice and assistance on high-energy pumps at the various power plant around the U.S.
and the world.
Currently David and Beate still serve the military as very active members of the VFW
Post 12102 here in Walterboro. David serves as the Quartermaster/Adjutant and Beate is
Auxiliary President. Mrs. Beate was the first to join in 2014 and Mr. David followed in
2016. The local VFW Post 12102 is very active in the community and in their endeavors
to help veterans in Colleton County. The assistance takes many forms. The VFW host a
“Day of Service” which is held in early May. This year they collected over 120 pounds
of food, 100 pounds of pet supplies, and $550 that was divided between the Colleton
County Animal Shelter and the Bethel Food Bank. The Post received recognition for this
achievement in the National VFW Magazine and at the National Convention. Coming
up in early November is the annual picnic which takes places at Veterans’ Victory House
and is open to all veterans. This year the picnic will be organized by Mrs. Beate and
the auxiliary members. Once a quarter Post 12102 hold their meetings at Veterans’
Victory House so members who are residents can attend meetings. The VFW has helped
a member who was evacuated from Edisto during a storm and helped with hotel costs
and food until they were able to move home. Once, The Veterans’ Council sent out word
there were remains of a deceased veteran at a local funeral home and the family could not
afford to have the remains shipped back to Kansas. Money was given by the Post to pay
off the mortuary bill, and one member gave $1,000 to get the veteran home. Donations
were provided to the Upstate when Hurricane Helene devastated the area. Post 12102
sets up booths around town at various events and times. Some of the community services
the Post is involved in is volunteering/donating to local food banks, animal shelters, and
donating books to a local preschool. The Post also focuses on “taking care of their own”
and the elderly veterans with yard work, home repairs, transportation, and food. The Post
also focuses on increasing membership and VFW Post 12102 is one of the smallest posts
in South Carolina, but last year they were the fastest growing Post in the state and 26th for
the group in the nation. They also educate the youngsters that stop by their booths when
they are out, about the Buddy Poppy and flag etiquette. They also reach out to veterans
and provide them with information on how to obtain their VA benefits.
VFW Post 12102 tries to live by the mottos of the VFW, “No one does more for
Veterans” and “Still Serving.”
Like all heroes, David and Beate do not do what they do for fellow veterans for glory
and recognition. They absolutely do not feel like Hometown Heroes, but for the veterans
and the members of the community they serve, they are 100% heroes.
