Posted by Mike Trollinger on August 14, 2007:

I never knew Burton McCord while he was alive. I only got to know him when I moved to Brady, Texas, in 1994. Being a West Point graduate, Class of 1968, and a Vietnam Veteran, I joined the local VFW Post named for him. I saw his picture on the wall of the post in the hall of honor. Then in early 2000, a number of his classmates got together to write his obituary for the Association of Graduate's magazine, The Assembly. I happened to be in the office of the editor of the local newspaper one day when one of his classmates called to get information about Burton for the obituary. I volunteered to help locally with the project. What I found out about Burton McCord allowed me to "know" him further. I talked to his mother and found out that Burton had always wanted to go to the Academy. He attended Brady High School and graduated with the class of 1959, the year BHS won the state football title in their UIL classification. Burton was a member of that squad and is remembered for being "as tough as nails" and playing through injuries. He was also a shot putter for the track team. Burton not only excelled on the athletic fields, he graduated as the valedictorian of the his high school class. One classmate said he always had a book in his hand, reading it as he went about his business. Burton joined the Long Gray Line in July 1959, as a member of the Class of 1963. He played varsity football and was ranked high in his class academically. After graduation, he got married and had two children. He was initially assigned to Fort Hood, Texas, where his battalion commander said that Burton was always looking out for his soldiers and their well-being. Burton was posted to Vietnam in late 1965 or early 1966. He was assigned to MACV as an advisor for the Army of Vietnam. On the day he was killed, he was in his tank repulsing an enemy attack, when he was killed instantly by a sniper. He left a wife and two children and many friends here in Brady, Texas, and all over the world. When we meet at VFW Post 3234 here in Brady, we honor his service to his country. We will never forget the sacrifice that Burton Kyle McCord made in the service of his country. Well done, Burton, be thou at peace . . . .

admin