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View a eulogy for Joshua Todd Byers, USMA '96, who passed away on July 23, 2003.

Joshua Todd Byers

West Point, 1996

Be Thou At Peace

Posted by Gary Kramlich on November 16, 2003:

It was an honor and privilege to be Josh's friend and roommate while we were in platoon leaders with the 3rd ID at Ft. Stewart, GA. I only knew him in passing while we were cadets, but ran into him again when we were in Ranger School. I knew he was heading to Ft. Stewart, and had an idea that he didn't have a roommate. I asked him one morning while we were shaving about linking up after the course completed; both of us not knowing when or if we would complete. As it turned out, we both went straight through, and we found a place in Hinesville.

I look back often on those months as new lieutenants and I appreciate now more than ever what a positive and lasting impact Josh had on me during that time. There were many days that we would come home soaked in sweat from a day in the motorpool, peel our uniforms off, and retell the day?s trials and na? platoon leader experiences. What a terrific sounding board Josh was; able to see with clarity the important issues from the trivial, the lessons to be kept and the areas to seek improvement. Much of the moral character I carry today was either strengthened or all together built from those afternoon moments with your son. His integrity as an officer was based on his faith as a Christian, and both were things admirable to those who came into contact with him.

Josh was a great friend, great American, and great Christian. He is, and forever will be, the personification of Duty, Honor, and Country. I think about him daily, and his memory has helped me make moral decisions, much like his daily advice did years ago. Peace be to him, his wife Kim, and his family.

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