Gys Jansen van Beek

Gys Jansen-Van Beek (March 31, 1919 – November 14, 2015) was a Dutch-American inventor who, as a member of the Dutch resistance during World War II, helped rescue members of the Allied forces and is also recognized as an Aid Giver for helping Jews escaping the Holocaust.

Early life

Born March 31, 1919, in Angeren, the Netherlands, Van Beek grew up on a farm. He was a member of the Reformed Churches in the Netherlands. Using forged identity papers he was able to help civilians and downed Allied pilots escape the Netherlands. Among those he helped escape was a P-51 pilot from Wisconsin, Lieutenant Howard Edward Moebius. For his efforts he earned decorations from the governments of Canada, Great Britain, the Netherlands, and the United States of America. In 1999 he was recognized as an Aid Giver by the Shoah Foundation In 1995 he invented a hatchet used by firefighters and rescue workers. He continued inventing tools including the "Trucker's Friend" which he exclusively licensed to Innovation Factory. He died on November 14, 2015, in Boise, Idaho.