Current data for Contributor

Smither, James (Interviewer)

Current data for Creator

Byrd, Edward

Current data for Date

2014-11-10

Current data for Description

Dr. Edward Byrd was born in 1940 in Birmingham, Alabama and grew up in Washington, D.C. He attended George Washington University and was accepted into the medical school there graduating in 1965. All medical school graduates at the time were expected to enter the service, so he joined the Navy,completed a short training at Annapolis Naval Academy, Maryland and served aboard the USS Chikaskia, USS Altair, and USS Truckee and took a cruise to the Mediterranean Sea taking part in aiding the USS Liberty during the Six Day War in 1967. In 1967 he volunteered to go to Vietnam to gain some experience with neurosurgery. In August 1967 he arrived in Vietnam and was assigned to the USS Repose off of Da Nang. He was originally in charge of his own ward aboard the ship treating tropical diseases until he began to assist neurosurgeons. In Vietnam he aided in treating a myriad of casualties from minor wounds to fatal wound and saw the immediate effects and aftermath of the Tet Offensive in late January 1968. He returned home and trained and worked as a neurosurgeon. After retiring he took art courses in Charleston, South Carolina and graduated with a degree in art history and studio art. He created a bronze sculpture in memory of one Dennis Lobbezoo, a soldier he treated in Vietnam that died in 1968, that was placed in the Richard M. DeVos Center of Grand Valley State University.

Current data for Source

Veterans History Project collection, (RHC-27)