Galesburg resident and Army veteran Sergeant Byron Baird sits down with WGIL's Jay Redfern right after Monday night's City Council meeting, where he was honored with a mayoral proclamation—and state recognition from Rep. Dan Swanson—for his long-overdue Purple Heart.
Baird, 38, originally from Williamsfield and a 2005 graduate, served eight years in the Army's 27th Engineer Battalion, 264th Clearance Company, attached to the 82nd Airborne. At age 23 in Afghanistan, he survived two IED explosions in 2010 while clearing routes—suffering traumatic brain injury, severe hearing loss, and temporary paralysis.
Despite the injuries from the first blast, Baird chose to return to duty after rehabilitation. He waited 15 years for his Purple Heart due to paperwork issues—until family friend Bud Westbay and Congressman Eric Sorensen's office helped track it down.
A powerful conversation about service, sacrifice, resilience, and closure. Baird also reflects on the council and state recognition and what it means to him as a Galesburg resident.
