Preston Gerald Boyd

April 20, 1945 – July 21, 2025

Preston Boyd, a veteran of the Vietnam War and a longtime resident of Rosepine, passed away peacefully at home on July 21, 2025. He was born April 20, 1945, in Wood, South Dakota to Hilbert Brave Boy and Elsie Theresa Boyd. He attended high school at Saint Francis Indian Mission before enlisting in the U.S. Army. He entered basic training at Ft. Leonard Wood in 1963 then went on to Ft. Sam Houston for Combat Medic Specialist Training. In 1964 he was deployed to Germany where he remained until he was deployed to South Vietnam from 1966-1967 with an infantry unit north of Saigon.He attended the Army's Foreign Language Center in Monterey, CA where he became fluent in the Vietnamese language. In 1969 Preston returned to Vietnam with the Military Assistance Command-Vietnam on Mobile Advisory Team 51 (MAT51) in the Mekong Delta. Preston's experiences with MAT51 as an infantry advisor are documented through the life of fictional character Army Medic Henry Small Deer in the book "No Survivors" written by teammate Mike Sutton.The Army recognized Preston for his honorable service with several medals including the Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm to recognize acts of heroism and valor. He retired from the Army as an Administrative Specialist First Sergeant at Fort Polk, LA after 26 years of military service. Preston enjoyed fishing, riding his motorcycle, and working in his yard. He especially liked building a rapport with the wild birds that found his feeders. In the last few years, he became an avid genealogist as he explored his family history.

Preston first married Anna M Kaksch while stationed in Germany in 1968. To this union four children were born: Sandra Gabriella, Eric Wayne, Andreas Gerald, and Dawn Nicole all of Kentucky. He later married Mary Kaye Shaffer in 1981. One child was born to this union, Marie Christina of Wisconsin.

Survivors include his children, two brothers; John and Dudley Roether, South Dakota; and two sisters; Ellen Krush, California and LaVera Rose, South Dakota. Preceding him in death were his wife Mary Kaye, his parents, two brothers Richard and Roger Roether and one sister, Melodi Walking Bull.

Preston and his wife Kaye will receive military honors and be interred together at the Central Louisiana Veterans Cemetery near Fort Polk on Thursday, July 24, 2025, at 10:00 a.m.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Hospice of Leesville.