Honorary Parade Marshall Timothy Bolyard

Command Sergeant Major United States Army Timothy Bolyard

Timothy Bolyard

Command Sergeant Major United States Army Honorary Parade Marshal

Command Sergeant Major Timothy Bolyard was on his seventh deployment with the United States Army, when he sustained life threating wounds and lost his life in a roadside attack in Logar Province, Afghanistan, last September. CSM Bolyard was the Command Sergeant Major of 3rd Squadron, 1st Security Force Assistance Brigade, Fort Benning, Georgia. He was the highest-ranking, non-commissioned officer in his unit. In that role, CSM Bolyard was charged with the well-being of every Soldier in the Squadron, a responsibility he cherished.

Bolyard served in the United States Army for 24 years, following his enlistment in June of 1994. He was an armor/cavalry scout senior sergeant who served as the squadron command sergeant major for Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 3rd Squadron, 1st Security Force Assistance Brigade.

Throughout his two-and-a-half-decade military career, CMS Bolyard earned many awards and decorations including six Bronze Star Medals, two of them with Valor. His awards and decorations include: the Bronze Star Medal with Valor (1 OLC), Bronze Star Medal (3 OLCs), Meritorious Service Medal (3 OLC), Army Commendation Medal (5 OLCs), Army Achievement Medal (8 OLCs), Good Conduct Medal (7th award), National Defense Service Medal (with star device), and the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal.

In addition, he earned a Kosovo Campaign Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, Armed Forces Service Medal, NCO Professional Development Ribbon (with 4 device), Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Medal, United Nations Medal, NATO Medal (with star device), the Combat Action Badge, Drivers Badge wheel, The order of Saint George Bronze Award and is also a member of the Sergeant Audie Murphy Club.

Bolyard was a dedicated soldier, who by many accounts, had a calm demeanor and a gift for seeing what needed to be done in a difficult situation.

CMS Bolyard, or known as “Caveman” by his classmates, was a graduate of the Grafton High School Class of 1994. Immediately following graduation from GHS, he joined the United States Army. He entered OSUT training in 1994 at Fort Knox, Kentucky where he was awarded the MOS of 19D, Cavalry Scout.

Since that time, Command Sergeant Major Bolyard served in a variety of positions to include Dismounted Scout, Driver, Gunner, Team Leader, Squad Leader, Section Leader, Platoon Sergeant, First Sergeant, Armor Branch Sergeant Major at Human Resources Command (HRC), Operations Sergeant Major at the Squadron, Brigade Combat Team and Division level, and Squadron Command Sergeant Major.

His assignments include: C Troop, 1st Squadron, 7th US Cavalry, Fort Hood, Texas; 1st Battalion 6th Infantry, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, Baumholder, Germany; 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colorado; 4nd Squadron, 10th US Cavalry, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colorado; Human Resources Command, Fort Knox, Kentucky; 1st Squadron, 10th US Cavalry, HHT 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division Headquarters Fort Carson, Colorado; 3rd Infantry Division Headquarters and 5th Squadron, 7th Cavalry, 1st Brigade Combat Team 3rd Infantry Division Fort Stewart, Georgia.

CSM Bolyard leaves behind his parents, Marvin D. and Sandra Jo (Isner) Bolyard; his beloved wife Amy J. (Lynn) Bolyard, his children Preston A. Bolyard, Casey L. Settle and Melanie Rose Bryan-Brown, and three grandchildren, Alana and Jaxon Settle and Jamysen Rose Bolyard Brown, as well as many other family members and friends.