Mark Austin Byrd

This half life size model in clay is Mark's proposed memorial sculpture honoring the late Roy Benavidez, Medal of Honor recipient,  by Valor Remembered Foundation. 

This model has been cast in resin and will new be developed revised and perfected as the final model for the full size memorial sculpture.  Valor Remembered is currently negotiating with the city of San Antonio and Harris County, Texas (Houston Metro) for a suitable sites for the memorial.

This sculpture portrays Benavidez as a role model for America's youth.  Roy Benavidez dedicated his life after retirement from the US Army as an inspirational speaker bringing to all Americans his simple message of

"Duty, Honor, Country"

Sculptor:  Mark Austin Byrd

This sculpture is a early study for our proposed USMC Vietnam Helicopter Flight Crew Memorial. Lance Corporal John G. "Gordo" Phelps was a 19 year old U. S. Marine helicopter crew chief serving on his second year of combat in Vietnam when he earned the Navy Cross.  He left his aircraft which had landed to rescue four trapped and severely wounded U. S. Army soldiers who were surrounded by enemy soldiers.  At one point Phelps had to drop the man he was carrying when he noticed a Viet Cong running at him with a grenade in each hand.  He pulled his pistol and fired from a shooting range stance.  He observed the six shots each impact the man's chest, but the man kept coming and finally fell dead about 10 feet from him.  The grenades did not explode.

This was just one moment a ten minutes battle in which Phelps and his three crew members became the highest decorated flight crew in American history for a single mission.  His pilot, Stephen Pless, earned the Medal of Honor, and the other two crew members earned the Navy Cross as well.  Read more by visiting the Pless Memorial page of the Valor Remembered website www.valorremembered.org.

Sculptor:  Mark Austin Byrd

This sculpture is a early study for our proposed USMC Vietnam Helicopter Flight Crew Memorial.   Upon stepping out of the helicopter to help carry in the wounded men, copilot Captain Rupert "Skeets" Fairfield saw two enemy soldiers with automatic rifles about 10 feet away from the tail boom.  He quickly pulled the door machine gun from its mount and killed them with a burst of fire. 

This was just one moment a ten minutes battle in which Phelps and his three crew members became the highest decorated flight crew in American history for a single mission.  His pilot, Stephen Pless, earned the Medal of Honor, and the other two crew members earned the Navy Cross as well.  Read more by visiting the Pless Memorial page of the Valor Remembered website www.valorremembered.org.