BRIGADIER GENERAL HERBERT JACK LLOYD
Born – November 27, 1936 – Died – December 10, 2015
BIOGRAPHY OF BRIGADIER GENERAL HERBERT JACK LLOYD
I am writing my own obituary because I am quite simply the last authority on my
own death – having given more than a half-century of service to my God, my family
and my country, most of it abroad in foreign lands in high-risk areas.
As I recall the events of service, it is only fitting that I should die in service to our
cause. We all have but one death to spend, and for it to have deep meaning, death
should be with others who are prepared to give their lives to the cause of Christian
Civilization and Liberty.
And yet, I deny I died for anything. I lived for the Christian values and beliefs that
had been imbued in me by a strong sainted Christian mother and the example of my
very own son. The manner in which I chose to live my life involved the very real
chance I would die in the execution of those duties that help make the world a better
and more generous place. If there is nothing worth dying for – in this sense – there is
nothing worth living for.
I have had the privilege and was humbled to serve with and command American
fighting men at every level, from squad to Asst. Division Commander, in savage,
intense, sustained combat, from a minute to several days and nights – to see
America’s very finest young men and women willingly give their lives to the cause
that was greater than themselves. My life was spared on numerous occasions and
my country was generous enough to award twelve awards for valor. God Almighty
allowed me to survive being wounded twice in Vietnam and once in Afghanistan.
I had the privilege to serve with different armies around the world and make many
close and cherished friends who shared our American Christian values and beliefs.
The service arranged for nine years of university level education to include the
Royal College of Defense Studies in London and a BA and MA from Auburn
University in preparation to serve on the staff and faculty of the United States
Military Academy at West Point and later to serve with heads of state in the sub-
continent.
The last eighteen years of civilian service were in the Muslim world of the Middle
East and Africa, where I served in the corporate world – the last several years as a
partner in sensitive government agencies with extremely courageous and dedicated
Americans – caused me to appreciate the complexities of the tribal cultures that
caused it to be so difficult to bring democracy and a better way of life to the poor
wretched lands. Always it was the suffering little children who could not help
themselves that was the most heartbreaking and changed one’s views of one’s life
and the world.
Service to the cause has been my life and has been full and rewarding and it has
exacted its price. It is only just.
I was a member of the Unity Baptist Church in Hope, Arkansas, and am survived by
my son, Mark, and his wonderful family, his wife, Beth, and children; Hannah and
Matthew, and other family members who reside