Billy Wayne Byrd – Colonel, United States Army

Fron contemporary news reports:

Funeral services for Colonel (retired) Billy Wayne BYRD, of Falls Church, Virginia, formerly of Sallisaw, Oklahoma, will be held at noon, Thursday, January 22, 2004, at the First Christian Church, 2723 King St., Alexandria, Virginia.

Burial with full Military Honors will be at 3 p.m. in Arlington National Cemetery, in Arlington, Virginia.

He was born on October 22, 1924, in Sallisaw, Oklahoma, to Bill and Alta (SUMPTER) BYRD. He died on Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2003.  Survivors include his wife, Gwendolyn Bell BYRD; one daughter Adrianne (Hugh); two sisters, Rosalie (Wayne) and Donna Ann (Robert); three grandchildren; and one sister-in-law, Ramona. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Ruth BYRD; his parents; and one brother, Clifton BYRD.

Billy Wayne Byrd, Colonel, United States Army (retired) of Falls Church, Virginia, died on Wednesday, December 17, 2003.

Colonel Byrd was a veteran of World War II and earned a Silver Star in 1944. He served in combat during the Korean War and was an Armor Officer in both wars.

He received his journalism degree from Oklahoma State University and received a Master’s degree in International Relations from American University. After he retired from the military, he became a Certified Master Locksmith.

Since 1976, he was a member of A.A. and devoted many volunteer hours to that organization.

The Colonal is survived by his wife Gwendolyn Bell Byrd; daughter Adrianne (Hugh) Hopkins of Orange Park, Florida; sisters Rosalie (Wayne) Stewart of Chickasha, Oklahoma, Donna Ann (Robert) Betts of Ellicott City, Maryland; and grandchildren Bryson Hopkins of Bristow, Virginia, Adam (Heather) Hopkins of Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, and Sharon Hopkins of Chattanooga, Tennessee and sister-in-law Ramona (George) Wright of Ozark, Alabama. He was preceded in death by his first wife Ruth Byrd and his brother Clifton Byrd.

Funeral services will be held at 12 Noon on Thursday, January 22, at First hristian Church, 2723 King St., Alexandria, Virginia. Interment with Full Military Honors will follow at 3 p.m. in Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia. In lieu of flowers memorial contributiuons may be made to the American Cancer Society, 124 Park St. S.E., Vienna, Virginia 22180.

Michael Robert Patterson

Michael Robert Patterson was born in Arlington and is the son of a former officer of the US Army. So it was no wonder that sooner or later his interests drew him to American history and especially to American military history. Many of his articles can be found on renowned portals like the New York Times, Washingtonpost or Wikipedia.

Reviewed by: Michael Howard