Captain Robert Ray (Bobby) Boyd's Story Bobby graduated from Central High School in Murfreesboro in 1959 with honors. 1956 Central HS yearbook> In 1964, he received his BS degree in chemistry from Middle Tennessee State University and Second Lieutenant rank from the ROTC. He was assigned to the 101st Airborne Artillery at Fort Cambell. He graduated from the Field Artillery Officers Basic Course and was sent to Viet Nam in July of 1965. On 9 January 1966, the article below appeared in The Daily News-Journal, Murfreesboro, Tennessee. On March 16, 1966, while still a Lieutenant, he was awarded the "Bronze Star Medal for Valor" for moving under heavy enemy fire to the platoon which was receiving the brunt of the new attack. He directed artillery fire upon the Viet Cong while exposing himself to fire for five hours. The information about his first tour and awards were published in the The Daily News-Journal, Murfreesboro, Tennessee on Sunday, March 19, 1967 after coming home for a 30 day leave before returning to Vietnam to complete his six month tour extension. Bobby was promoted to Captain in January of 1967 and was stationed at Bien Hoa Air Base near Saigon as the Communications Officer for the 173rd Airborne Division. He signed up for a second tour of duty and came home for 30 days leave. On May 17 Captain Boyd was preparing for a convoy when a shell from a hostile mortar round hit him. He was killed instantly by a very small fragment which hit his heart. On July 15, 1967, the United States Army presented posthumous awards to Captain Ray Boyd The Purple Heart, the Bronze Star Medal and The Air Medal with First Oak Leaf Cluster. Bobby is buried in the Coleman Cemetery east of Murfreesboro, TN beside of the family farm that belonged to his father (Mose Boyd, Jr.), his grand parents Mose and Martha Jamison Boyd, Sr. and our common great grand father William Robert Jamison. Information by his cousin, Joe A. Jamison During the final stages evacuating a fire support base near Xuan Loc, Hua Nghia, the enemy began lobbing mortar rounds into the dismantled camp. The confusion from the prop wash and noise of the large Chinhook helicopters created confusion that allowed several rounds to hit before the remaining soldiers realized they were under attack. Many of the defensive positions used for shelter had been filled, leaving the troops in the open for fifteen minutes before close air support suppressed the enemy fire. Boyd, Battery A Commander, 3/319th Artillery, 173rd Airborne Brigade, was the lone KIA, although many were seriously wounded. According to a friend, Bob was on his second tour of duty in Vietnam. When asked as to why he wanted to return to Vietnam for another tour, he replied that his experience might save the lives of others. Memorial at Middle Tennessee University. Robert was survived by his mother Zera Arnold Boyd (1909-2000) and father Mose Clayton Boyd (1913-2001). He was an only child. Captain Robert Ray Boyd is buried, along with his parents, in Coleman Cemetery, Murfreesboro, Rutherford County, Tennessee. - - The Virtual Wall, May 30, 2020

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