April 9, 1938 – October 26, 1967
Major Richard Boyd was born at Fort Benning, Georgia. The Boyd family moved to Carlisle, Pennsylvania when his father, Colonel Richard Boyd, Senior, was assigned to the U.S. Army War College. Boyd graduated from West Point in 1960. He subsequently completed Airborne Training and was assigned to the 101st Airborne Division. Major Boyd served as company commander for Company B, 2nd Battalion, 502nd Infantry (Airborne) Regiment during Operation Wheeler, which was conducted in Quang Nam and Quang Tin Provinces in South Vietnam, primarily aimed at countering North Vietnamese Army forces operating in the area. On 26 October 1967, at the age of 29, Boyd was killed in action. During his career, he was the recipient of the Silver Star, the Bronze Star with four Oak Leaf Clusters, and was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart Medal. Today, he rests in the West Point Cemetery. Those who served under him described Boyd as an outstanding leader and friend.