Leon Curtis Byrd was born in Lakeland, FL in 1920 to Annie Ard and William Rex Byrd, who raised him amongst the orange groves. He was raised with his five sisters: Lill, Carol, Virginia, Sue, and Edna. During his early years, Leon developed a love for plants and gardening, a passion that he would enjoy and build on throughout his life.
After high school, he joined the Army and was accepted to the USMA preparatory class at Fort McPherson, GA. After receiving his USMA appointment he entered as a new cadet with the class of 1945—853 strong. After settling into cadet life, Leon joined several clubs—Camera, Weightlifting, Gymnastics—and, his favorite, the Fishing Club. His mates dubbed him “Geef” after some mythical genie bird. During his years at the Academy, he developed what would prove to be lifelong friendships with “Mick” McMurdo, “Saint” St. Onge, “Bick” Sawyer, “Jim” Root, and “Hoot” Van Hout, just to name a few.
It was while he was on a class-training trip in the Myrtle Beach, SC area, that he met Mary Louise Adkins at a dance held for the cadets. She and her little sister, Ann, stood together in the dance line both looking beautiful in their white dresses. Both were daughters of John E. Adkins Jr. (USMA Class of 1923). Fortunately, Colonel Adkins was later stationed in the New York area, where Mary Louise and Leon were able to stay in touch through the remainder of his Academy years. Lest anyone feel sorry for little Ann, she also married a West Pointer the following year.
Leon and Mary Louise were married on graduation day, June 5, 1945, in the West Point Catholic Chapel. After passing under the saber arch, Leon attended post-graduation training at Fort Benning, GA. Second Lieutenant Byrd then rotated to Japan in November to help in the post-war rebuilding effort while Mary Louise moved to San Antonio, TX to live with her parents. In April, she gave birth to Douglas and, after he was old enough to travel, she took him aboard a troop transport to Japan, where the new family settled in Sapporo with the new outfit that the 11th Airborne Division had assigned Leon.
In 1948, the Byrds shipped out to Fort Riley, KS, where Leon joined the 10th Division, 86th Regiment. It was there that Mary Louise gave birth to Peggy. Next up was Fort Benning, where Leon taught at the Airborne School, received his promotion to captain, and welcomed two more daughters, Sarah and Mazie. In 1951, Leon volunteered to serve in Korea, where he was assigned to help quell the uprisings at the Koje-do POW camp. He returned to Fort Benning for the advanced course and was subsequently assigned to Pullman, WA, where he instructed ROTC at Washington State University. This gave Leon the opportunity to spend more quality time with his growing family, and another girl, Gabriel, was born. In late 1955, the Byrds found themselves in West Germany. These were exciting times for everyone. After brief stints in Giessen and Butzbach, his family was thrilled to be living in beautiful Bavaria and the Perlacher Forest community of Munich, where Joan was born. In 1957 the Byrds moved back in the States. They landed at Fort Leavenworth, KS and CGSC. It was there that Leon enjoyed getting reacquainted with fellow students and old friends.
Next, Leon was assigned to the War Room in the Pentagon, followed by a stint with the nearby Defense Communications Agency. The family bought a home near Mount Vernon, VA and fell in love with the beauty and history of the Washington area. The twins, Teresa and Martha, and the Byrds’ youngest girl, Clair, were born here. In October 1963, Leon spent a year with MACV in Can-Tho. Upon return to the States, he began his tour with Combat Development Command at nearby Fort Belvoir, VA. Doug entered West Point in 1966, soon after Peggy and Sally also left for college.
A year later, the Byrd family headed back to Germany. Assigned to the 8th Division, Leon got his promotion to colonel, and Mary Louise gave birth to John, their 10th and last child. If you’ve been counting, Mary Louise raised eight daughters flanked by their two sons. Leon’s final tour was at Fort Hood, TX. In 1973, he and his family retired to San Marcos, TX, where he built his dream home with a stunning view of Texas Hill Country. It was here that the Byrd family and their dogs would live happily for 47 years.
Geef served 30 years. He fought in both the Korean and the Vietnam wars and received multiple honors and awards, including the National Defense Service medal with oak leaf cluster, the Bronze Star, the Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster, and the Senior Parachutist Badge.
Sadly, Mary Louise passed away peacefully in 2016 after 71 years of marriage, followed by Leon four years later at the age of 99. Ten children, 15 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren survive them. In his final years, Leon would mention that he drew his greatest satisfaction in life from raising 10 kids with Mary Louise. Leon was an exemplary person: loyal husband, father, grandparent, citizen, and West Pointer who lived honorably and left this earth better off for his having been here.
Be Thou at Peace, Leon.
— All 10 living children of Mary Louise and COL Leon C. Byrd