Richard Boyd

Born February 19, 1957 in Memphis, Tennessee to Richard and Bernadine Boyd, Rick Boyd passed away of natural causes Thursday, April 1, 2021.  Graduating in 1975 from Castle Park High School in Chula Vista, California, Rick went on to receive his AA Degree from Southwestern College, eventually enlisting and retiring as a Master Sergeant in the United States Army.  His military career took him to several Army stations around the world.  Rick was Blackhawk 1 in the Army’s 101st Airborne, Special Forces Black Hawk division, and in 1989, Rick and his team were assigned to the A-1 tank unit to help knock down the Berlin Wall.

 A recipient of the Silver Star for valor and two Purple Hearts, Rick fought in several conflicts that included the tail end of the Vietnam War, Iran, Bosnia and Afghanistan.  Having been stationed in both Germany and Poland, he also served in classified positions during the Cold War occupation.  Rick was an expert Marksman with 500/500 Bulls-eyes.

An enthusiast of motorcycle riding, car repair and underwater welder for tankers, Rick loved to laugh, swim, get tattoos and have a beer or two with his friends and Army teammates.  When tired out from running missions with his ‘brothers’, his favorite saying was, “I think I’m gonna puff-up, pass out and die.” Rick is survived by his sister and care-giver Linda Boyd and mother, Bernadine, who is still alive and well at 92 years old in Phoenix, Arizona.  

“Rest in Peace brother, uncle and son.”

Memorial donations can be made to the DAV (Disabled American Veterans of San Diego.  To leave condolences for the family, please visit Rick’s Tribute Wall.