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<em>Burton Kyle McCord</em> was born in Brady, TX, to Mr. and Mrs. Alonzo K. McCord. Family, friends, and acquaintances during his youth in this small, west Texas town remember him as a serious scholar with an abiding affection for, and outstanding ability in, athletics. According to a Brady High School classmate, “It was not uncommon for Burt to walk from the field house to the football field with an open textbook in his hands.”</p>
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His mother stated that “Burton had always wanted to go to West Point from the earliest age and become a member of the Long Gray Line. Most of his childhood efforts were aimed in that direction.”</p>
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Another high school classmate remembers, “Burt thrived on hard situations. He never backed down from anything difficult. Even with athletic injuries, seldom did they keep him from competing. If you wanted somebody tough, you called on Burt McCord.” Tough he may have been, but a sister recalls many acts of kindness to others. He was very close to his immediate family, and he shared his strength with his two brothers and sisters.</p>
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Burt graduated as valedictorian of his class, a member of the National Honor Society, and president of the Student Council. He was a powerful young man, and his athletic honors included All-District guard his senior year, as well as being the leading shot-putter on the track team. Very popular with his schoolmates, Burt was chosen as his school’s “Most Representative Boy” for three years.</p>
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Burt’s youthful dreams of West Point became reality in 1959, when, two days into his 18th year, he joined the Class of ’63. Burt’s mother remembers his complaints about Beast Barracks, particularly the weight loss due to the dining hall activities of the times. Nothing was to discourage Burt, though, and he survived the summer.</p>
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His cadet career was marked by success in every area. He played football and ran track his first three years but was unable to compete as a First Classman because of a back injury. Academically, he was a closet hive, graduating in the top 20% of the class—all the while protesting his ignorance in every subject, attributing his tenths to sheer luck! As a Firstie, Burt was a cadet lieutenant and platoon leader in G-1.</p>
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Burt was widely admired for his down-to-earth sense of values, his modesty about his accomplishments, and the open-hearted friendliness engendered by his west Texas upbringing. He was a naturally droll man, full of fun, who doted on gently teasing his classmates—as well as anyone else in the general vicinity. The ladies always loved Burt. His shy, country boy countenance—coupled with an exaggerated drawl—made him the object of envy to many peers because of his ability to “drag pro.” His ’63 Howitzer profile stated: “The people who don’t respect and admire Burt haven’t met him yet. His biggest attribute is modesty.”</p>
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During his Firstie year, Burt met and fell in love with Eddie-Carol Stone of Big Stone Gap, VA, and married her after graduation. Burt was commissioned into Armor and attended the Basic Course at Ft. Knox, Airborne and Ranger Schools at Ft. Benning and, later, Jungle Warfare School in the Canal Zone.</p>
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Burt’s first assignment was in the 2d Armored Division at Ft. Hood, TX, in early 1964. Like many of his classmates, he settled into the routine of a CONUS STRAC division at the peak of the Cold War, complete with equipment shortages, unfilled command slots, and tight training schedules. His mother was told by his CO from Ft. Hood that “Burt worked too hard” and that he stayed with his men until a task was completed, regardless of the hours involved.</p>
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Burt and Eddie-Carol had two children—a son, Michael, and a daughter, Tracy. Eddie-Carol relates that Michael was born while Burt was on Desert Strike, a CONUS exercise in 1964, and Tracy was born during his service in Viet Nam.</p>
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Events moved rapidly in the ’60s. Burt was assigned to Viet Nam as an advisor in the spring of 1965. Returning home on leave from Language School before his departure, Burt assured his mother that “this is what he was trained to do and that he had to fulfill his duty to his country.”</p>
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Burt reported to Viet Nam later in the summer of 1965. Assigned to MACV, he was sent to Quang Ngai Province, where he was an advisor to the province chief. There were many actions where Burt displayed his skills as an Armored officer and soldier. He was awarded an RVN medal just before his last action for helping to locate and destroy a Viet Cong headquarters, resulting in more than 1,000 VC killed, wounded, or captured.</p>
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Burt was killed in action in April 1966, six weeks short of the end of his tour, while rallying his Vietnamese soldiers in support of another RVN unit that was heavily engaged. He died as a result of gunshot wounds incurred while attacking a hostile unit while on a combat operation. His mother learned that he had just opened the hatch and stood up in his tank when an enemy sniper’s bullet hit him. He died instantly.</p>
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Like his early days in his hometown, Burt was a tough soldier who engaged in more than 60 major battles during his tour in Viet Nam. He received two Silver Stars, two Bronze Stars, numerous Air Medals, as well as the Purple Heart and several Vietnamese medals for valor in combat. Burt was posthumously promoted to captain and buried with honors at Arlington National Cemetery.</p>
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After Burt’s death, Eddie-Carol remarried a friend and classmate of Burt’s, Gene Cargile, who adopted their two children and reared them as his own. Burt was the first citizen of McCullough County, TX, to die in Viet Nam. The local VFW Post in Brady was named in his honor in the late 1960s, as well as a barracks at Ft. Knox in 1967.</p>
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Burton McCord was the sort of man whose memory never leaves his family and friends. He was dearly loved by his family, and a number ofhis classmates recalled his good nature and gentle humor during the memorial service at their 35th Reunion at West Point. He was a credit to the Army and to the Long Gray Line, of which he was so proud to be a member.</p>
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<em>Classmates, family, and friends</em></p>