Timothy A Bolyard

Thornton, West Virginia

September 3, 2018

Age	Military	Rank	Unit/Location
42	Army	CSM	Squadron, 1st Security Force Assistance Brigade, Fort Benning, Georgia

Died of wounds sustained from small arms fire in Logar Province, Afghanistan. The incident is under investigation.

Obituary for CSM Timothy Allen Bolyard

Command Sergeant Major Timothy Allen Bolyard, age 42 of Ft. Benning, GA (formerly of Thornton, WV) was killed in the line of duty in Logar Provence of Afghanistan on Monday, September 3, 2018.
He was born January 15, 1976 in Morgantown, WV a son of Marvin D. and Sandra Jo (Isner) Bolyard.
He is survived by his beloved wife Amy J. (Lynn) Bolyard of Ft. Benning, GA; three children, Preston A. Bolyard of Colorado Springs, CO, Casey L. Settle (Leanna) of Maricopa, AZ, and Melanie Rose Bryan-Brown (Richard) of Montgomery, AL; three grandchildren, Alana and Jaxon Settle of Maricopa, AZ and Jamysen Rose Bolyard Brown of Montgomery, AL; one brother, Jeffrey O. Bolyard (Roseann) of Reedsville, WV; one sister, Melissa K. Bragg (Criss) of Grafton, WV; three cousins who Timothy thought of as his brothers, Jackie Wolfe, Glenn L. Bolyard, Jr., Jason A. Bolyard and special friend, Steve Collins; four nephews, Jesse, Cody, and Zach Jennings and Haden Kennedy; two close mentors, Retired 1st Sgt. Jason W. Christner and Retired 1st Sgt. Ken Godfrey; and also many officers and NCO’s Timothy served with during his 24 years of service.
He was preceded in death by his maternal grandparents, Bob and Marie Isner and his paternal grandparents, Obed Junior and Anna Bolyard; and also survived by several aunts, uncles, and cousins.
Timothy graduated from Grafton High School with the Class of 1994 where he was known as “Caveman”.
He enjoyed the outdoors including hiking, fishing, hunting, and was a “grill master”.

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. He served as the Command Sergeant Major of the 3rd Squadron, 1ST Security Forces Assistance Brigade at Fort Benning GA.

Upon completion of OSUT he was assigned to 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. Command Sergeant Major Bolyard has deployed ten times in support of contingency and combat operations around the world.

Command Sergeant Major Bolyard’s 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), Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, 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.

Command Sergeant Major Bolyard is a graduate of the Combat Lifesaver Course, Small Arms Maintenance Course, Primary Leadership Development Course, HAZMAT Storage and Transportation Course, Master Fitness Trainer Course, 19D Basic Noncommissioned Officers Course, Scout Leader Course, 19D Advanced Noncommissioned Officers Course, and the Sergeants Major Course class 63. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Excelsior College in New York.

The family will receive friends at the Donald G. Ford Funeral Home 950 George Washington Hwy., Grafton, WV on Tuesday, September 18th from 12:00-8:00 p.m.
Funeral service will be conducted on Wednesday, September 19, 2018 at the Message of Freedom Church (beside the funeral home) at 12:00 noon with Pastor Phil Nestor officiating.
Interment will follow at the WV National Cemetery in Pruntytown.
Military graveside honors will be conducted.
CSM Bolyard will lie in state from 11:00 a.m. until the funeral hour.

SFAB squadron command sergeant major killed in insider attack in Afghanistan
By: Meghann Myers and Michelle Tan

The top enlisted soldier of a unit advising Afghan troops died Monday following an insider attack, the Defense Department confirmed Tuesday.

Command Sgt. Maj. Timothy Bolyard, 42, of Thornton, West Virginia, was deployed with 3rd Squadron, 1st Security Force Assistance Brigade, according to a release.

He died from wounds sustained from small arms fire in Logar province, Afghanistan. One other soldier was wounded in the same attack. Officials said that soldier was in stable condition.

The incident is under investigation, but Lt. Col. Martin O’Donnell, a spokesman for the U.S.-led coalition in Kabul, said in a telephone interview Tuesday that the senior NCO was killed by a member of the Afghan national police force, the Associated Press reported.
Bolyard, who was on his seventh deployment, according to the Army, is the second SFAB soldier to be killed during the 1st SFAB’s maiden deployment to Afghanistan.

Cpl. Joseph Maciel, a 3rd Infantry Division soldier assigned to 1st SFAB’s force protection element died in July in another apparent insider attack.
“I am deeply saddened by the loss of Command. Sgt. Maj. Tim Bolyard. His selflessness and dedication to his country and fellow soldiers always will be remembered,” said Brig. Gen. Mark Landes, who commands the Security Force Assistance Command, in a statement. “The Bolyard family is in our prayers as we make every effort to honor them in memory of his ultimate sacrifice.”

Bolyard, who joined the Army in June 1994, 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, of Fort Benning, Georgia, according to the Army.

His awards and decorations include six Bronze Star Medals, two of them with Valor, four Meritorious Service Medals, six Army Commendation Medals, nine Army Achievement Medals, the Iraq Campaign Medal with four Campaign Stars, the Kosovo Campaign Medal with Bronze Service Star and the Combat Action Badge.

From 5 WDTV
CSM Bolyard laid to rest at West Virginia National Cemetery
GRAFTON, W.Va. (WDTV) - Command Sergent Major Timothy Bolyard was laid to rest today at the West Virginia National Cemetery.

A native of Thorton, W.Va., CSM Bolyard served a 24-year career in the U.S. Army. He was less than two months away from retirement when he was killed in what officials called, 'an insider attack' in Afghanistan.

Fellow soldiers, veterans, family members, neighbors and strangers all lined the streets between the Donald G. Ford Funeral Home and the cemetery to pay their respects.

"Serving alongside Tim was an honor and a privilege every single day," said Sgt. Major of the Army, Daniel A. Dailey, who has known CSM Bolyard for nearly 20 years. "His bravery was unmatched. His leadership, his humility, his humbleness for his soldiers, it's just unmatched. He's a phenomenal leader, a phenomenal gentleman, and a phenomenal father. We couldn't have asked for better service from a great American."

More than 70 motorcycles led the procession to the cemetery with veterans from around the country. They included Patriot Guard Riders, Eight Eight Six Foundation, Combat Veterans, Vietnam Veterans of America, Legacy Veterans, American Legion Riders, and other groups.
"This is a hometown boy," said Mike Jarvis, Eight Eight Six Foundation president. "It's like a family member that we're here to honor."

Mark Landes, commanding general of the Security Forces Assistance Command, did not know CSM Bolyard personally but said he knew about the type of man and soldier he was.

"I've heard so many stories where he took the time to stop, listen, and address people and their concerns" Landes said. "He was just an amazing leader and amazing man. He was in the service of so many people. What a shining example for all of us. He happily did it, with a smile on his face everywhere he went."

Amy Jackson graduated with CSM Bolyard in 1994. Her husband played football alongside CSM Bolyard in school. She said she talked to him around a month before he died.

"Tim was an amazing person," Jackson said. "He was the best friend anyone could ask for. In the army, he was the man. He was awesome."

Dailey, the highest-ranking enlisted soldier in the U.S. Army, said he was a better person for knowing CSM Bolyard throughout his life.
"There are hazards of our chosen profession," Daily said. "They're very hard to deal with. I think what we have to focus on is what he stood for, what he lived for. He loved being an American soldier. He loved wearing the uniform. He'd be proud to know that we were still here today honoring him for the sacrifice he made to this great nation."

Her class made t-shirts in his honor in Grafton's blue and gold colors. The back featured the number 60 from his days on the Grafton High School football field. The name "Caveman" was at the top of the shirts, a nod to his football nickname, describing the way his friends said he ran down the field.

Jackson offered a simple, yet resonating message for the family of her longtime friend.

"Thank you for letting him serve," she said.