Brendan Lyons Jr.

1948 - 2024

Brendan Lafayette (Ben) Lyons, Jr., passed away on the evening of September 1, 2024, at the Dallas Veterans' Administration Medical Center in Texas. Born in Bennington Vermont on January 27, 1948, he was the son of the late Brendan Lafayette Lyons, Sr., and Noreen Bannon Lyons, lifelong residents of Bennington. Brendan attended the former St. Frances de Sales Academy grade school, and the Bennington Catholic High School, graduating in 1966. Shortly after high school graduation, he joined the United States Army and earned the right to wear the Green Beret.

Upon completion of communications training, he was assigned to 6th Special Forces Group-Abn at Ft. Bragg, NC. (Now Ft. Liberty, NC). He received orders to Vietnam and was assigned to the 5th Special Forces Group-Abn, II Corp MIKE Force (Mobile Strike Force Command). In January 1970, he was assigned to Military Assistance Command Vietnam-Studies and Observations Group (MACV-SOG. He was assigned to Command-and-Control South (CCS) as part of Recon Team-Plane. After the southern compound closed, he was transferred to Command and Control Central (CCC), where he created Recon Team-Maryland, and took the 1-0 leadership position. He remained in this position until the autumn of 1971 when his tour ended. After Vietnam, he was assigned to 3rd BN, 7th Special Forces Group-Abn in Panama, where he was involved in a parachute accident on Venado Drop Zone, which left him confined to a wheelchair. Brendan was medically discharged from the Army in 1976.

His awards and decorations include the Combat Infantryman Badge, Parachutist Badge, Free Fall Parachutist Badge, Bronze Star Medal w/"V" Devices 3 times, Bronze Clasp w/2 Loops, Purple Heart three times, ARCOM w/Valor, National Defense Service Medal, Air Medal, Good Conduct, Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross w/Palm, Vietnam Jump Wings (Honorary), Vietnamese Service and Campaign ribbons, SACA Panama, SCUBA Diver Badge with Honor, Republic of China Rough Terrain Parachutists Badge. In 2001, his unit received a Presidential Unit Citation honoring the MACVSOG secret commandos for the work that they had done in Asia twenty-nine years earlier. This unit award is given to units that display gallantry above and beyond others. It is second only to the Medal of Honor for individuals.

Brendan was a founding member of the Special Operations Association (SOA - #008-GL). He was one of the early members of Dallas-Ft. Worth Special Forces Assoc. Chapter 31. He was a father figure to the local Dega (Montagnard) Community, and a founding member of the non-profit Save the Montagnard People. Founding member also of the non-profit, Valor Remembered Foundation. Over a decade ago he sat for a sculptor who made a bronze bust of Brendan which is displayed at Valor Remembered.

Ben was a force of nature. He was quick witted and funny, never caught without an opinion, generous and compassionate but he did not suffer fools lightly. He spent 48 of his 76 years in a wheelchair and was determined to live on his own terms as much as possible. To that end, he renewed and enjoyed his SCUBA diving certification, owned and flew his own Cessna airplane, continued to parachute with the help of friends, and traveled as much and as often as he could. He drove to Bennington many times to visit his parents until they both passed away. While he had traveled around the world as a young man, one of his bucket list trips was to return to Ireland to visit his mother's homestead. He made that trip in 2011 with his sisters.

Brendan loved a good party and hosted a legendary Memorial Day bash at his home in Dallas for roughly 40 years. In keeping with Ben's tradition of hospitality, the Special Forces Association in Dallas held a "last party" for him at his home on September 21. This celebration of his life was attended by Special Forces Green Berets both young and old. Memories of Ben were shared through laughter and tears.

He is survived by his sisters, Carol Muller (husband John) of Hinesburg, VT; Noreen (Norah) Schumacher (husband David) of Flat Rock, NC; and Deborah Lyons of Winooski, VT. He leaves his beloved nieces and nephews; Bridget Callahan Lussier, Thomas Callahan MD, Ned Remick, Margaret Muller Parker, Nora Callahan Dest, and Mary-Alice Callahan-Trieb. He also leaves his great nieces and nephews, Maristella, Maxine, Caroline, Jack, Madeline, Ares, and Bristol. He has a close family of cousins both in the USA and in Ireland. He will be sorely missed.

According to his wishes, he will be buried in Bennington, VT next to his parents on Saturday, October 26. Friends and family gather at the Mahar and Son Funeral Home, 628 Main Street in Bennington at 10 a.m. Proceed to Sacred Heart/St. Francis Catholic Church for 11 o'clock Mass. Burial with full military honors at Park Lawn Cemetery at 12 noon. Everyone is invited to lunch at the Mount Anthony Country Club, 180 Country Club Drive in Bennington at 1 p.m. Please join us as we celebrate a life so very well lived.