Binh Thuy, Republic of Vietnam. - A Navy man from Coldwater has joined the navy's most unique squadron, Lt. j. g. Ronald L. Beeley, son of Mrs. Robert Brass of Coldwater, is serving with Light Attack Squadron Four (Val-4) as a pilot.

Lt. (junior grade) Beeley graduated from Coldwater high school in 1963 and received his aviator's wings of gold on November 7, 1969. Prior to reporting to Val-4, Beeley underwent special training to counter-insurgency, survival, and OV-10A familiarization in San Diego. He is married to the former Sharon Lee Cobb of Imperial route, Garden City, Kans.

Light Attack Squadron Four is the Navy's newest attack squadron and the only squadron commissioned to fly the OV-10A "Bronco," Small, light, and powered by twin turbo-prop engines, the Bronco is highly maneuverable yet capable of carrying almost 3000 pounds of armament in the form of rockets, machine guns and 20 mm cannon.

With daily patrols and standby crews capable of being airborne in less than 10 minutes, Val-4 provides round-the-clock cover for the river patrol boats in the Delta and has become an integral part of a formidable team preventing Viet Cong infiltration.

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William & Mary Ellen (Webster) Beeley, great grandparents of Ronald L. Beeley.

J. Lynn Beeley, grandfather of Ronald L. Beeley.

Ross Portland Beeley, father of Ronald L. Beeley.

Beeley Surname Message Board at RootsWeb

Beeley Surname Message Board at GenForum

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Thanks to Shirley Brier for finding, transcribing and contributing the above news article to this web site! She noted: "The day, (April) 23, of this paper is crossed out in pencil, I assume and 30 is written below it." in the microfilmed copy of this newspaper.

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