MAJ Sam Bird, USA
Class of 1961
Member of the Old Guard --the elite military ceremonial unit based in Washington, D.C.----he was chosen as the officer in charge of President John F. Kennedy's burial detail watched on TV by millions.View here Tragically, on his birthday 27 Jan 1967, while commanding a unit in Vietnam he was hit by a Viet Cong sniper. The head wound ultimately proved to be fatal in 1984 after years of suffering. Subject of a 1989 Readers Digest article on leadership and strength of character, Sam Bird was the perfect example of Citadel values, courage, and leadership. A true role model for all cadets, his short life is legacy on The Citadel campus. View here