This Prime

Timer edition is spotlighting just a few of the many Fayette County residents

who have served in the Armed Forces over the past 60-plus years. Here

are their stories.

Bill Beckwith

joined the Army in 1964, retiring as a captain in 1970.

During his

year in Vietnam he flew a fixed wing single-engine "L19 Birddog"

doing visual reconnaissance. After separating from the military he served

in the Reserves until 1995, retiring as a lietutenant colonel.

Hughie Bray

served aboard a destroyer in the South Pacific from October 13, 1943,

to January, 1946.

Bray's ship

monitored the waters ten to fifteen miles outside of Tokyo looking for

downed pilots. It was the first ship to reach the city when the Japanese

surrendered in 1945 and had the unique honor of carrying all of the allied

envoys to sign the peace treaty, including French, Dutch, Russian and

Canadian representatives.

All who signed

were there, according to Bray, with the exception of one noteworthy individual

General Douglas McArthur, who traveled on his own ship. "I had a

very interesting career," said Bray.

Watch the Prime

Timer pages for a more in-depth story regarding Bray.

Fred Brown

Jr. served in World War II and Korea.

The former

mayor of Peachtree City joined the Navy in 1942 and was commissioned an

ensign and Navy pilot in June of 1944. He served as an instructor until

leaving the military in January, 1946.

In October

of 1957 he was recalled into the Navy for the Korean War. During his second

tour of duty he flew supplies and personnel into Seoul, Korea. He stated,

"The military was good for me and was good to me."

Although he

did not serve on active duty during the Vietnam War, he did have some

involvement. His duties with the Federal Aviation Administration gave

him the responsibility for "safe flight of air carriers in and out

of Vietnam." Although he was primarily located in Honolulu, Hawaii,

he says, "I had an office in Saigon and spent plenty of time there."

Today he says

of the military, "I have all the respect in the world for our service

personnel."

Mike Calderella

was drafted into the Army in 1967 and served for two years during the

Vietnam War.

Calderella

arrived in Cameraon Bay, Vietnam, right in the middle of the Tet Offensive.

As a Military Occupational Specialist (MOS) he drove a landing craft and

was stationed in Cam Rahn Bay, Vietnam. He notes, "I arrived right

in the middle of the Tet Offensive" the largest enemy push made during

the war.

Due to the

untimely death of his father, Calderella was transferred