SGT LARRY DWIGHT MAGGARD
"B" Company
HQ Detachment
720th Military Police Battalion
89th Military Police Group
18th Military Police Brigade
Age
21 - From Isom, Kentucky
Killed in action June 5, 1968 - Gia Dinh, South Viet Nam
INFORMATION
FOUND AT VIETNAM VETERANS
MEMORIAL FUND WEBSITE
(www.vvmf.org)
LARRY DWIGHT MAGGARD
is honored on Panel 60W, Row 19 of
the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.
Full Name: LARRY DWIGHT MAGGARD
Wall Name: LARRY D MAGGARD
Date of Birth: 1/20/1946
Date of Casualty: 6/5/1968
Home of Record: ISOM
State: KY
Branch of Service: ARMY
Rank: SGT
Casualty Country: SOUTH VIETNAM
Casualty Province: GIA DINH
MEMORIALS POSTED AT VIETNAM VETERANS
MEMORIAL FUND (www.vvmf.org)
"A Very Special
Young Man" - My Mother &
Larry's Mother were very close friends. Mom thought of Mrs. Maggard as
her 'second Mother' as she grew up in Kentucky. I met Larry before he
left for Vietnam and we wrote often until his death. His death was such
a shock to us. He is thought of even now and I often wonder what he
would be like today. One thing I know, he would still be a very special
man. He had a beautiful smile, a sparkle in his eyes and a love for
life, family and country that is rare today. He enjoyed the military
and took pride in what he was doing. May his memory live on in those
who knew and loved him.
Posted by: Louise Moore
Friday, November 9, 2001
"Very loving Uncle" - Uncle Larry was a great Uncle and we never be forgotten in this family. Even tho I was 9 years old when he lost his live but I have never forgot him. I sure hope more family members will write more about him. I always love hearing stories about him. We all love and miss you Uncle Larry.
Posted by: Patrice L. Oliver
Wednesday, June 2, 1999
Posted by: Louise Moore
Friday, November 9, 2001
"Very loving Uncle" - Uncle Larry was a great Uncle and we never be forgotten in this family. Even tho I was 9 years old when he lost his live but I have never forgot him. I sure hope more family members will write more about him. I always love hearing stories about him. We all love and miss you Uncle Larry.
Posted by: Patrice L. Oliver
Wednesday, June 2, 1999
MEMORIAL BY MSG DONALD H. PRUITT (Ret.)
"I had the
pleasure of meeting Larry a few days prior to the helicopter being shot
down and claiming his life. Larry and I spent an hour or so sitting and
talking in an MP jeep on Bien Hoa AFB. We had transported our Provost
Marshal Colonel Payne to a meeting. Larry told me that he had
extended his tour in Vietnam so he could return to the USA with Colonel
Payne, who was due to leave during the summer of 1968. I was impressed
with the attitude and esprit-de-corps of Larry and really enjoyed our
short time together. It was heartbreaking to hear about the helicopter
being shot down, severely injuring Colonel Payne and the Pilot, and
killing Larry along with CSM Kidd."
FROM "720th MILITARY POLICE
BATTALION VIET NAM PROJECT"
(http://www.720mpvietnamproject.org/honor_roll_720th/casualties_battalion/maggard_larry_d/maggard_larry_d.html)
On Wednesday, 5
June 1968 SGT Maggard, age 22 of Hazzard, Kentucky and SMG Kenneth E.
Kidd age 40, of Orlando, Florida, accompanied Colonel Francis E. Payne,
the 89th MP Group Commander on a helicopter flight to Saigon and the
Delta Region.
The Colonel had received orders for a new assignment and was conducting a farewell inspection of the units before leaving Vietnam.
SGT Maggard had been the Colonels driver and body guard throughout his tour beginning as Commanding Officer of the 720th MP Battalion, and finishing as the 89th Group Commander.
SGT Maggards tour started 27 March 1967 with B Company. From there he went to HQ Detachment, 720th MP Battalion, and followed COL Payne to the 89th MP Group as his driver.
His tour was comming to an end in March1968 and he requested an extension so he could return to the states with the Colonel in June.
Both SGT Maggard and SMG Kidd were in the back seat of the Huey on the return flight to Bien Hoa Air Base. They had just passed over Saigon, the Colonel who had dozed off briefly, awoke startled by the pilots frantic calls of Mayday.
Within seconds the helicopter fell to the ground and crashed into a rice paddy. The force of the impact threw COL Payne and the pilot clear of the impact into the rice paddy, SGT Maggard and SMG Kidd were not as lucky, they were crushed when the helicopter motor came forward.
The Colonel and the pilot were both kept alive by the quick actions of a doctor who was passing by in a jeep several hundred yards away and had witnessed the crash. The doctor managed to swim to them and assist their breathing until they could be evacuated to Saigon. Both were very seriously injured but survived.
In the fall of 1968 COL Payne met with SGT Maggards family at a memorial service in their local church in Kentucky. At the service he presented SGT Maggards parents with the Purple Heart, Army Commendation Medal and Bronze Star (meritorious service) Medal.
As reported by LTC (COL Ret.) Francis E. "Frank" Payne.
The Colonel had received orders for a new assignment and was conducting a farewell inspection of the units before leaving Vietnam.
SGT Maggard had been the Colonels driver and body guard throughout his tour beginning as Commanding Officer of the 720th MP Battalion, and finishing as the 89th Group Commander.
SGT Maggards tour started 27 March 1967 with B Company. From there he went to HQ Detachment, 720th MP Battalion, and followed COL Payne to the 89th MP Group as his driver.
His tour was comming to an end in March1968 and he requested an extension so he could return to the states with the Colonel in June.
Both SGT Maggard and SMG Kidd were in the back seat of the Huey on the return flight to Bien Hoa Air Base. They had just passed over Saigon, the Colonel who had dozed off briefly, awoke startled by the pilots frantic calls of Mayday.
Within seconds the helicopter fell to the ground and crashed into a rice paddy. The force of the impact threw COL Payne and the pilot clear of the impact into the rice paddy, SGT Maggard and SMG Kidd were not as lucky, they were crushed when the helicopter motor came forward.
The Colonel and the pilot were both kept alive by the quick actions of a doctor who was passing by in a jeep several hundred yards away and had witnessed the crash. The doctor managed to swim to them and assist their breathing until they could be evacuated to Saigon. Both were very seriously injured but survived.
In the fall of 1968 COL Payne met with SGT Maggards family at a memorial service in their local church in Kentucky. At the service he presented SGT Maggards parents with the Purple Heart, Army Commendation Medal and Bronze Star (meritorious service) Medal.
As reported by LTC (COL Ret.) Francis E. "Frank" Payne.
--- General /
Personal ---
Last name: MAGGARD
First name: LARRY DWIGHT
Home of Record (official): ISOM
State (official): KY
Date of Birth: Sunday, January 20, 1946
Sex: Male
Race: Caucasian
Marital Status: Single
--- Military ---
Branch: Army
Rank: SGT
Serial Number: 15755003
Component: Regular
Pay grade: E5
MOS (Military Occupational Specialty code): 95B40
--- Action ---
Start of Tour: Monday, March 27, 1967
Date of Casualty: Wednesday, June 5, 1968
Age at time of loss: 22
Casualty type: (A2) Hostile, died of wounds
Reason: Air loss - Crashed on land (Helicopter, non-crew)
Country: South VietNam
Province: Gia Dinh
The Wall: Panel 60W - Row 019
Last name: MAGGARD
First name: LARRY DWIGHT
Home of Record (official): ISOM
State (official): KY
Date of Birth: Sunday, January 20, 1946
Sex: Male
Race: Caucasian
Marital Status: Single
--- Military ---
Branch: Army
Rank: SGT
Serial Number: 15755003
Component: Regular
Pay grade: E5
MOS (Military Occupational Specialty code): 95B40
--- Action ---
Start of Tour: Monday, March 27, 1967
Date of Casualty: Wednesday, June 5, 1968
Age at time of loss: 22
Casualty type: (A2) Hostile, died of wounds
Reason: Air loss - Crashed on land (Helicopter, non-crew)
Country: South VietNam
Province: Gia Dinh
The Wall: Panel 60W - Row 019
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