Courtesy Photo | Col. Larry Boyd, Sr., deputy commander for mobilization at Army Support Activity-Dix,...... read more read more
FORT DIX, N.J. -- The Army Support Activity-Dix community is bidding farewell to a leader who has given 30 years of his life to his country, as Col. Larry Boyd, Sr. deputy commander for mobilization, retires from military service, May 31.
During his career, Boyd served three assignments at Fort Dix. His final tour at Dix began in 2007, when he assumed his current duties of monitoring and ensuring quality training for deploying Soldiers, Airman, Sailors and Coast Guardsmen.
"As the deputy commander for mobilization I got to meet Soldiers, ensure their training was progressing well and then send them off on their missions. I count these as very import tasks," Boyd said. "I have had the privilege to work with some of the best officers and senior NCOs during my career. I have learned a lot from them and hope I have imparted something good in their lives, as well."
Boyd's right hand man, Sgt. Maj. Anthony Young, has the utmost respect and admiration for his boss.
"It has been an honor and privilege to work with such an officer and gentleman. Col. Boyd is a very methodical man and has a deep passion for the U.S. Army. He takes everything that comes his way, good or bad, and finds good in it. He is a man that values his morals, beliefs, his family and God. I have been able to support him as his Sergeant Major for Mobilization without any doubt that he always had my back. We have a special relationship that I will cherish for as long as I live," Young said.
In the late 1990s, Boyd served a second hitch at Fort Dix as the director of the Military Personnel Directorate, 1079th Garrison Support Unit. His first experience with Dix came in the late 1980s when he was assigned to Readiness Group Dix, 1st U.S. Army as a young captain.
Boyd said one of the greatest highlights in his career was when he was the commander of Theater Personnel Command, 390th Personnel Group and Theater Adjutant General, 377th Theater Support Command (Forward), Coalition Forces Land Component Command, Camp Arifjan, Kuwait with command and control/operations and responsibilities in Kuwait, Iraq, Qatar, Afghanistan, the Horn of Africa, and the Sinai during Operation Iraqi Freedom III.
During this assignment, he fulfilled the responsibilities of a general officer while overseeing more than 1,000 promotion boards; supervising the movement of more than 110 million pounds of mail while building three new Joint Military Mail Terminals in Iraq and Kuwait; processing more than half-a-million personnel through the theater gateway; and tracking and reporting more than 12,000 casualties in the Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom theaters of operation, among many other duties.
Early in his career, as an officer in the adjutant general corps, Boyd spent 19 months at Stuttgart, Germany, where he held a highly visible and challenging position. At that time, a junior first lieutenant filling a major's billets, he was responsible for all distinguished visitors throughout that portion of the country. He said 16 hour days were the norm, but he found the duty very satisfying.
"My biggest challenge has been that I always shoot from the hip. Sometimes it is hard to not speak my piece. I always say, 'If you don't want to know the truth, don't ask me.' I've always done what I knew was right. I'm always going to get the job done. I'm going to always stand by my integrity, and I'm not going to cross the line," said Boyd.
This has been a point of admiration for many.
ASA-Dix Command Sgt. Maj. Bonita Davis said she will truly miss the colonel.
"He is a man of few words, always to the point. Col. Boyd has always been an officer and a gentleman. He always has a calm spirit and listening ear. My favorite of his quotes is 'You can't make this stuff up.' I will miss him," she said.
Col. Patrick Slowey, commander of ASA-Dix, said, "Col. Boyd has been a tremendous help to me in my year here at Dix. He has been my sounding board. I have been able to go to him for advice and I really appreciate that. He's not a flashy officer, someone always in the limelight; he's kind of low keyed. He grasps any mission given him by the horns and gets it done. I will truly miss him personally and professionally."
The Newberry, Conn., native graduated high school in 1976. He entered South Carolina State College, now South Carolina State University, in Orangeburg, S.C., where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and Public Administration.
South Carolina State College had a very large Reserve Officer Training Corps program during his tenure there. Seeing the opportunity to build on his self-discipline, and having had two brothers and an uncle who had served in the Army who each had a big influence on his life, Boyd joined and excelled, being designated an ROTC Distinguished Military Graduate.
Upon graduation in 1980, he received his Regular Army commission as a second lieutenant.
As Boyd steps into his civilian life, he looks forward to going back to his civilian job at INROADS Mid-Atlantic, Inc., in Philadelphia. He also looks forward to spending more time with his family, something he hasn't always been able to do working at one of the busiest enduring power projection platforms in the nation.
Boyd said, "It's been challenging, splitting time between the Army and my family. Now I can just focus on them and going to my civilian job. My son will be heading off to college this fall. I will spend as much time as possible with him before then.
"I've had a good career, met a lot of good people, worked with some good leaders and been able to mentor a lot of young people. You get out what you have put in, so I hope I've learned a lot while I was in," he said.
The thing he will miss most about the Army when he retires is the camaraderie, but he says he won't be far away.
Boyd leaves the Army with some parting advice, "I've always tried to be firm, but positive. If you treat people like people, they will take care of the mission. You need to set your people up for success."
Boyd, his wife, Paula, and their son, Larry, Jr., reside in Westampton, N.J. He is returning to his job as a manager with INROADS, an international not-for-profit career development organization that develops and places talented college students of color in business and industry, and prepares them for corporate and community leadership.
Other assignments during Boyd's career stationed him at Fort Polk, La., Alexandria, Va., Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, Pa., Richmond, Va., Willow Grove, Pa., and Coraopolis, Pa.
During his career, he has been awarded the Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal with Mobilization Device, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Overseas Service Ribbon and the Army Service Ribbon.
| Date Taken: | 05.27.2010 |
| Date Posted: | 05.27.2010 11:18 |
| Story ID: | 50362 |
| Location: | FORT DIX, NEW JERSEY, US |
| Web Views: | 483 |
| Downloads: | 193 |
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