Back in December 2025, I met Byron Baird, a local hero. Byron was a local farmer who enlisted in the Army to save fellow soldiers. Not in the infantry, medic, mechanic or any of the other Army jobs. He wanted to be an ordnance bomb disposal soldier.
He saw this opportunity as a way of saving lives. And he did save lives many times, almost costing him his own life when in two instances the vehicle he was operating was struck by an improvised explosive device, better known as an IED. He was banged up pretty severely in his first encounter, but defying medical advice and care, he went back to his unit.
When other soldiers were receiving their purple heart for injuries incurred during battle, he was unable to attend the formation and was then overlooked. It wasn’t until Bud Westbay heard Byron’s story after 15 years that Byron received his deserved recognition.
At a recent meeting of the Galesburg Sunrise Rotary club, I was once again honored to talk with Byron and introduced him to speak to the group gathered. Both his parents, Doug and Nancy, members of the club, heard him again tell his story.
Click here to listen to more of Byron’s story.