HAMPTON, Va. –
U.S. Service members from Joint Base Langley-Eustis and Naval Weapons Station Yorktown helped honor the life of Vietnam Veteran U.S. Army Pfc. Michael Glenn Loyd during the 458th Sea Tigers Reunion Memorial ceremony at the Hampton Maritime Center in Hampton, Virginia, Sept. 24, 2015.
During the ceremony, U.S. Air Force Airmen from the Langley Air Force Base Honor Guard performed a 21-gun salute honoring Loyd along with other 458th Sea Tigers who passed since the Vietnam conflict. U.S. Army Soldiers also acted as wreath bearers and Airmen from the U.S. Air Force Heritage of America Band lent drum and bugle support while the Joint Service Army and Navy Color Guard presented the colors.
Forty-six years ago, Loyd, a military policeman from the 300th Military Police Company attached to the 458th's Cat Lai Patrol Boat River detachment, perished in the line of duty at the age of 20. However, neither the detachment nor the 458th Transportation Company held a memorial service for him until now.
"We lost very few people and had no regular way of dealing with loss," said Tom Wonsiewicz, 458th Sea Tigers Reunion coordinator. "As I look at all the events through the eyes I have now, there would have been a ceremony. I pushed for this ceremony because [Loyd] died on my watch. We hold these ceremonies to help facilitate the memories of these men."
Although the ceremony was in honor of Loyd, it served as an influential moment for Senior Airman Thomas Hosey, Langley Air Force Base Honor Guard ceremonial guardsman.
"Today was probably one of the best days for me," said Hosey. "Every person that serves in the military deserves honors and for [Loyd] not to have honors until today breaks my heart a little bit, but at the same time I was so happy that I was allowed to be on this detail to give him the honors he deserves. It made me feel proud."
As the ceremony came to a close and the final ringing of the 21-gun salute faded, the somber melody of Taps filled the air as the Veterans of the U.S. Navy Riverine Operations in Vietnam carried away Loyd's ceremonial wreath on a PBR where it was laid on the Hampton River.
To learn more about the 458th Sea Tigers Association and the 458th Transportation Company's mission in Vietnam, visit
http://www.458thseatigers.org/