Galesburg resident and Army veteran Sgt. Byron Baird was honored with a mayoral proclamation at Monday night’s City Council meeting for his service and long-delayed Purple Heart.
Baird, 38, originally from Williamsfield and a 2005 graduate, was 23 when injured in two IED explosions in Afghanistan in 2010 while serving with the 27th Engineer Battalion, 264th Clearance Company, attached to the 82nd Airborne Division.
The blasts caused traumatic brain injury, severe hearing loss (about 80 percent), and temporary paralysis from spinal compression.
Despite the injuries from the first explosion on April 26, Baird chose to return to duty after rehabilitation—only to be hit by a second IED shortly after.
The Purple Heart—earned for wounds in combat—was never presented due to timing issues with medical leave. Baird pursued it for years but hit dead ends until family friend Bud Westbay took up the cause, writing officials and enlisting help from Congressman Eric Sorensen’s office.
A task force tracked down the award, and Baird received the certificate and medal earlier this year—15 years later.
“It really means a lot,” Baird told WGIL after the meeting. “It’s been a 15-year kind of battle trying to get this Purple Heart. I gave up on this thing 100 times… Finally, it was kind of a surreal, great closure to a long ordeal.”
Baird served eight years total, splitting time between active duty and reserves, and now helps on the family farm.
State Rep. Dan Swanson also attended to present Baird with a certificate of recognition and a State of Illinois flag.
Hear Baird’s full 11-minute interview with WGIL’s Jay Redfern—discussing his military journey, the explosions, and what the recognition means—below.
