Joshua Marvin Boyd
Sergeant, U.S. Army

On 5 March 2007, Sergeant Joshua Marvin Boyd was serving with 2nd Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, while deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

On that day, SGT Boyd’s unit was engaged in a combat patrol operation against enemy forces in Samarra, Iraq, when he sustained wounds from an improvised explosive device (IED) that exploded near his unit. Although SGT Boyd's wounds proved fatal, his instinctive actions and personal courage undoubtedly prevented a future attack on Coalition Forces, ISF or innocent civilians. SGT Boyd’s courageous actions that day earned him, at the eventual cost of his life, the U.S. Army's third highest award for valor, the Silver Star Medal.

SGT Boyd died of his wounds on 14 March 2007 at Brooke Army Medical Center, Fort Sam Houston, TX.

Medals, Awards and Badges

Silver Star Medal
Bronze Star Medal
Purple Heart
Army Good Conduct Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Iraq Campaign Medal with Bronze Star
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Army Service Ribbon
Army Overseas Service Ribbon
Combat Medical Badge
Parachutist Badge

Silver Star Medal Citation (Synopsis)

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918 (amended by an act of July 25, 1963), takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Sergeant Joshua M. Boyd, United States Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in connection with military operations against an armed hostile force while serving with the 2nd Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 3d Brigade Combat Team, 82d Airborne Division, in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM in Iraq, on 5 March 2007. While on combat patrol operations during Sergeant Boyd's instinctive actions and personal courage undoubtedly prevented a future attack on Coalition Forces, ISF or innocent civilians at the cost of his own grievous injuries. Sergeant Boyd's gallant actions and dedicated devotion to duty, at the cost of his own life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself, the 82d Airborne Division, and the United States Army.

Burial

Sergeant Joshua Marvin Boyd is buried at Elliott-Hamil Garden of Memories in Abilene, Taylor County, TX.

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/18489324/joshua-m_-boyd