Harold Edwin Birky

Harold E. Birky was born in Kalispell Montana into a family that had roots in South English area. He lived life “at full speed”. After graduating from Muscatine High School in 1968, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1969, training as a Navy SEAL. He deployed to South Vietnam with SEAL Team One in October 1970. Over his first two months, he participated in some 30 successful operations. In December, during an assault on an enemy bunker near Ben Tre City, he was wounded but held off an enemy attack for which he was awarded the Bronze Star with Valor. He died of his wounds in January. His body was escorted home by his brother Samuel, also a member of SEAL Team One. Fireman Birky was buried in the English River Church of the Brethren Cemetery in South English.