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Boyd, Randall Thomas, Jr

Date of birth:
September 24th, 1918 (Hingham/Massachusetts, United States)
Date of death:
October 27th, 2001 (Houston/Texas, United States)
Buried on:
Arlington National Cemetery
Plot: 66. Grave: 6703.
Service number:
0-100336, U.S. Navy
Nationality:
American (1776 - present, Republic)

Biography

Randall Thomas Boyd jr. was born September 24th, 1918 in Hingham, the son of Randall and Rachel Boyd and grew up in Weymouth. He graduated fromn Weymouth High School in 1936 and went to the US Naval Academy in Annapolis in June 1937.
He graduated in 1941. July 20th, 1942, he married Mary Jane Dooley in Hull, Massachusetts. During World War Two, Boyd served as Gunnery Officer of the U.S.S. Dallas. With the Dallas, Boyd took part in the invasion of French Morocco. In 1943 he was stationed in Pensacola and studied at the Flight Training School. In 1944 he earned his wings.
In 1947, Boyd commenced studies at MIT and earned his degree in aeronautics and aeronautic engineering. In 1949 he was commissioned as Executive Officer Patrol Squadron 47 ((VP-47). During the Korean War he served as a pilot. For his actions during this war, he was awarded with three DFC’s and five Air Medals. After the Korean War he was commissisoned as Commanding Officer Naval Patrol Squadron 34, as Commanding Officer Naval Air Station Air-flight Overhaul & Repair operations Pensacola and later as Commanding Officer U.S. Naval Base Rota, Spain.
Ultimately he was discharged in the rank of Commander and started work as an engineer with MIT’s Draper Laboratory, working on the Gemini and Apollo projects. Up to his retirement he was employed by Brown & Root Inc. in Houston.
Commander Boyd passed away October 27th, 2001 and was buried with military honors at Arlington National Cemetery on November 29th, 2011.

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Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Lieutenant (junior grade)
Unit:
U.S.S. Dallas (DD-199), U.S. Navy
Awarded on:
August 27th, 1943
Citation:
"For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action as Gunnery Officer of the Destroyer U.S.S. DALLAS (DD-199), during the assault on and occupation of French Morocco from 8 to 11 November 1942. Displaying remarkable courage under heavy hostile fire, during the perilous journey of the DALLAS up the shallow Sebou River to the Port Lyautey airfield, Lieutenant, Junior Grade, Boyd played a large part in providing protective gunfire for our Army raider troops and controlled and directed the fire of the ship so efficiently that hostile shore batteries were silenced before they were able to inflict any damage on the DALLAS. Lieutenant, Junior Grade, Boyd's invaluable achievement and keen initiative were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service."

Commander in Chief Atlantic: Serial 00643 (August 27, 1943).
Silver Star Medal (SSM)

Sources

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