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Ronnie Beets is still in our hearts. We have missed ''Sweet Beets'' for 33 years now... and we look forward to seeing him again on the other side. -- Lex

http://www.virtualwall.org/db/BeetsRD01a.htm

Ronnie D Beets
Specialist Four
B CO, 2ND BN, 502ND INF RGT, 101 ABN DIV
Army of the United States
13 February 1944 - 26 October 1972
Odessa, Texas
Panel 24E Line 111

Ronnie was wounded in action and went through the Medevac process. He made it home but then died of his wounds. I had just came back to my home town from my service in the Army and my last two years of college when Ronnie died. I didn't know Ronnie that well. I knew who he was. Ronnie was a 1962 graduate of Ector High School in Odessa, Texas. Although Ronnie died in 1972 his name wasn't added to the Wall in Washington, D.C., until 1986. Ronnie is honored by the Permian Basin Vietnam Memorial and by the Ector County, Texas, memorials at the courthouse. May his sacrifice never be forgotten.

A Note from The Virtual Wall
During the night of 13/14 Aug 1967 Bravo Company 2/502nd Infantry was engaged by a larger force while moving out from Landing Zone West near Chu Lai. Two men were killed and a number wounded in a fight that lasted much of the night. The known dead were SGT Johnnie H. Patterson of Oliver Springs, Tennessee, and CPL Danny L. Ingles of New Lebanon, Ohio; SGT Alexander Jackson of Washington, DC, may also have died in the night fight or may have been killed in a separate action later on 14 Aug 1967.
SP4 Ronnie D. Beets was one of the seriously wounded, with fragmentation wounds to the legs and a large wound centered in his back. Paralyzed from the chest down, SP4 Beets survived both the wounds and subsequent hospitalizations, was medically retired in 1970, and died from his injuries on 26 October 1972, just over five years after being wounded.

SP4 Beets was awarded the Silver Star for his actions during the battle, actions taken before and after he was wounded:

HEADQUARTERS
I FIELD FORCE VIETNAM
APO San Francisco 96350
23 December 1967

GENERAL ORDERS
NUMBER 983

AWARD OF THE SILVER STAR
1. TC 320. The following AWARD is announced posthumously.

BEETS, RONNIE D. RA18764896 SPECIALIST FOUR E4, United States Army
Company B, 2d Battalion (Airborne), 502d Infantry

Awarded: Silver Star
Date action: 13 August 1967
Theater: Republic of Vietnam
Reason: For gallantry in action.
Specialist Four Beets distinguished himself by gallantry in action while engaged in military operations against an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam on 13 August 1967, while serving as a member of Company B, 2d Battalion (Airborne), 502d Infantry, 1st Brigade, 101st Airborne Division. Specialist Four Beets was serving as a machine gunner with his platoon when it came under extremely heavy attack while moving from Landing Zone White near Chu Lai. He manned a position on the perimeter, putting effective fire upon the enemy. During the night, the numerically superior North Vietnamese Army force mounted a full scale attack with mortars, rockets, grenades, automatic and small arms fire. Specialist Beets' position became a prime target, and he was seriously wounded in both legs by grenades and rockets. When the medic came forward to treat him, he refused treatment and told the medic to roll him over to this gun. Once in position, although in great pain, he again began to fire upon the enemy. He remained in position under the withering hail of enemy fire with complete disregard for his safety and injuries, until the enemy had been beaten back. Only then did he allow himself medical treatment. In the morning, six enemy bodies were found with twenty meters of his position. Specialist Beets' outstanding display of heroism in action and his devotion to duty were in the highest traditions of military service and reflects great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.
Authority: By direction of the President under the provisions of USARV Message 16695, 1 July 1966 and paragraph 27, AR 672-5-1.

FOR THE COMMANDER:

GEORGE S. BLANCHARD
Brigadier General, US Army
Chief of Staff
OFFICIAL:
GERALD L. OVERSTREET
Colonel, AGC
Adjutant General