THE WALL OF FACES

Gary was 3-4 years older that me, He was good looking, very popular, great at sports, dated and later married the best looking girl in our high school. His folks owned the general store in our town of 309 people. After he left for Vietnam I delivered groceries for his folks. They let me drive the car that he had left behind. I was in heaven driving that car. Shortly after he was KIA I joined the Marine Corps and served in Vietnam April 69 - March 70. Hardly a day goes by that I don't think about Gary.

Gary is buried at Houstonia Cemetery, Houstonia,MO.

FOREVER REMEMBERED

"If you are able, save for them a place inside of you....and save one backward glance when you are leaving for the places they can no longer go.....Be not ashamed to say you loved them....
Take what they have left and what they have taught you with their dying and keep it with your own....And in that time when men decide and feel safe to call the war insane, take one moment to embrace those gentle heroes you left behind...."

Quote from a letter home by Maj. Michael Davis O'Donnell
KIA 24 March 1970. Distinguished Flying Cross: Shot down and Killed while attempting to rescue 8 fellow soldiers surrounded by attacking enemy forces.

We Nam Brothers pause to give a backward glance, and post this remembrance to you , one of the gentle heroes and patriots lost to the War in Vietnam:

Slip off that pack. Set it down by the crooked trail. Drop your steel pot alongside. Shed those magazine-ladened bandoliers away from your sweat-soaked shirt. Lay that silent weapon down and step out of the heat. Feel the soothing cool breeze right down to your soul ... and rest forever in the shade of our love, brother.

From your Nam-Band-Of-Brothers

Gary Dean Byrd was born an only child on December 21, 1945 in Greenville, Ohio. He was an active member of St. Pauls United Church of Christ and attended Greenville schools until his junior year. Then he moved with his family to Houstonia, Missouri where his parents Mr. and Mrs. Lowell Byrd operated the local grocery store. Upon completion of his degree from Northwest High School in 1965, Gary attended Morrow Trade School in Kansas City, Missouri the following summer. High School sweetheart, Janice McCurdy, took his hand in marriage on September 25, 1965 at the First Christian Church in Sedalia, Missouri, before entering the United States Army in late fall, 1965.
Gary D. Byrd's untiring efforts and professional ability allowed him the opportunity for a rapid climb in rank while assigned to basic training in Ft. Hood, Texas, in October 1965. His energetic application and extensive knowledge lead him to an Army Specialist 4th Class on November 2, 1965 at Ft. Hood. Equivalent to Corporal, Specialist Byrd acted assistant Platoon Sergent in Company C of the infantry's 2nd Battalion upon entering active duty January 12, 1966. After one year of service, Specialist Byrd used 100% effort obtaining outstanding results, and quickly attained the rank of SSGT/E-6.
With his devotion to duty and loyalty, Staff Sgt. E-6 Gary D. Byrd entered the 1st. platoon, Company A, 4th Battalion, 25th Division of the United States Army's 9th Infantry in Vietnam on Febuary 25, 1967. Quick to grasp implications of new problems, as a result of ever changing situations, Staff Sgt. Byrd became a Squad Leader in a short period of time. On June 30, 1967, Sgt. Byrd was assigned to the Army Pacification Mission in Vietnam. Most often called "Operation Farmingdale", named for a city in New York largely responsible for increasing success of the mission, the mission's main attempt was the win the confidence of rural Vietnamese villagers living along a vital supply route near Cu Chi. As part of the operation, Sgt. Byrd and other dedicated soldiers distributed food, clothing and medical supplies to Vietnamese villagers which Farmingdale residents donated.
Shortly following, Staff Sgt. Byrd was transferred to D Company and assigned to ground operations against hostile force in the Repulic of Vietnam. On October 13,1967, two months before he was due to return home after one year of active duty, Staff Sgt. Gary Dean Byrd died from metal fabric wounds during hostile force in firefight with the Viet Cong after a member of his squad stepped on a Vietnamese landmine in South Vietnam, Binh Duong, near Saigon. His body was transferred via army helicopter back to the United States, where his surviving family members awaited with grievance. Funeral services were held at Houstonia Community Church, located in Houstonia, Missouri and the burial following at Houstonia Cemetery. The United States Army posthumously awarded Sgt. Gary D. Byrd an Honorable Service of the Armed Forces of the United States of America Bronze Star/Purple Heart. His surviving wife, Janice Byrd, accepted the award bravely on his behalf.
Several memories were established on behalf of Staff Sgt. Gary Dean Byrd. Alumni of Northwest High School gave free will contributions to the flower fund and also purchased a new United States flag as a fitting memorial for the school. Students and staff claimed they would remember Gary and all of the Americans who gave their lives for our country's cause every time they look at the stars and stripes. Staff Sgt. Gary Dean Byrd has also been honored on the Vietnam Veteran's Memorial wall on panel 27E, Row 99.
All who personally knew Staff Sgt. Gary Dean Byrd, including family, peers, alumni, elders and fellow soldiers, often describe him with loving memory as loyal, gentle, brave, trusting, courageous, patriotic, dedicated, and respected. Lt. Ronald B. Beedy described Sgt. Byrd as "the finest man I ever met", thus continuing to describe him as the best squad leader under him. "I would like to live as he lived-as he lived, as he died, a man, a soldierand an American", he further stated. Staff Sgt. Gary D. Byrd was a motivating example to all he came in contact. He knew what the fight for freedom was all about and gave the supereme sacrifice for freedom's cause. His meticulous attention to detail are inkeeping with the finest traditions of the United States Army. Overwhelming memories shared by most are the feelings of "guilt that we passively allowed the world to come to a state of war, not only overseas, but on the streets of this country too".