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Long overdue plaque marks Ricky Baynard’s ultimate sacrifice
This is a story of long overdue recognition and how a good idea eventually can come together quickly.
In October 1983, Greencastle was most likely the only town in the United States to lose a hometown hero in both the invasion of the Caribbean country of Grenada and the bombing of the U.S. Marine Corps barracks in Beirut, Lebanon.
In Grenada, we lost Army Ranger Randy Cline of Belle Union, one of 19 Americans killed in that action on Oct. 25, 1983. In Beirut, we lost Lance Cpl. James “Ricky” Baynard, a young man who although born in Louisville, grew up in Greencastle before moving to Virginia where he graduated from high school and joined the Marines. He was one of 241 American military personnel who perished in the Oct. 23, 1983 bombing that the Islamic Jihad claimed credit for later.
Ironically, both men had a child they never met, sadly born in the aftermath of their deaths. Both left scores of friends and relatives mourning their demise locally.
But what both men didn’t get was official community recognition. Sgt. Cline got an impressive military funeral and a nice plaque on the courthouse wall.
However, Baynard’s hometown was listed by the Marine Corps as Alexandria, Va., so lost in translation was any plaque or public recognition locally -- until Friday night in the Putnam County Courthouse rotunda.
“My brother, Lance Cpl. James ‘Ricky’ Baynard, was a proud product of Greencastle,” Barry Baynard, formerly of Greencastle and a one-time City Council member, said. “We came here when he was in first grade, and he left when he finished 10th grade and started 11th grade in school. He left because myself, who was three years older than Ricky, and our brother, who’s two years older than me, were basically his parents, his guardians because my father died when Ricky was 14 and my mother died when he was 16. My brother and I did the best we could to raise him. We were both working. As a 19-year-old, I can tell you that it’s not so easy raising a 16-year-old. And my older brother was only 21.
“At some point, he decided that he needed to have more structure in his life. This is an adult decision made by him when he was 16 years old. So he went to live with my older sister, who gave him that structure and that motherly love that he needed. And he got it.”
Ricky eventually graduated from high school in Richmond, Va., and joined the Marines. Certainly more structure there.
Barry Baynard shared how the courthouse plaque idea evolved. Steve Fenwick, who was sheriff at the time, approached Barry about doing something for Ricky in Greencastle. That was several years ago, but nothing came together. And then, Wilbur Smith got involved, and he and Fenwick decided to get something done. They got with Denny Bridges.
“They got this thing done pretty quickly. It started last week, and it was finished just a few days ago,” Barry Baynard praised.
Judge Bridges, who coincidentally had roomed with Randy Cline before he joined the Army, was a year behind Barry at Greencastle High School, as were Fenwick and Smith.
Bridges said one day Fenwick was lamenting the lack of a separate Korean War veterans memorial when the Baynard omission surfaced.
“Steve said, in fact, there was a Marine who was killed in Beirut,” Judge Bridges explained. “I worked in Gary (as a state trooper) at the time, and I wasn’t aware. But Wilbur Smith and I — these ideas kind of percolate — we were sitting in my driveway one night, and I said, ‘That’s not right.’ He said, ‘That’s exactly right. It’s not right.’
“So we got the ball rolling, and literally, the plaque was finished at 3 o’clock today,” Bridges continued Friday evening, thanking L.T. Taylor for getting it finished in three days. “We were scrambling to get it done because Barry and his family were going to be here for a family reunion (in Indianapolis on Saturday).”
Barry Baynard acknowledged that “it came together quickly, and we appreciate everyone who came.”
Greencastle Mayor Bill Dory was on hand during the event that coincided with First Friday to welcome the Baynard family to Greencastle for the occasion.
“It is a privilege to have you all here today to honor your United States Marine Lance Cpl. James ‘Ricky’ Baynard,” Dory said. “Given the family reunion this weekend and the turnout this evening, it’s obvious that Ricky was a much-loved son, brother, nephew, uncle, husband and father.”
While Ricky was born in Louisville, he spent much of his childhood here in Greencastle before relocating to Virginia, Dory noted.
“Lance Cpl. Baynard joins our recognition of our veterans from around the community,” the mayor added. “Just two days after the bombing in Beirut, Army Ranger Sgt. Randy Cline was killed in Grenada. It is fitting that Lance Cpl. Baynard’s plaque joins our community just a couple of days before his birthday, as a reminder of the many men and women who have served our country, and especially those who have served and gave the ultimate sacrifice.
“Future individuals who visit the courthouse will pay an admiring glance and remember those individuals that have served,” Dory continued. “Often on my own visits here, I pause and read a few of the names. Some are well-known local family names. Others perhaps less well known. But all have shared a common commitment to serve our nation as a member of a branch of our armed services. To quote President Ronald Reagan, ‘I know there are no words that can express our sorrow and grief for the loss of these splendid young men on that fateful day.’”
It’s taken 40 years to rectify the omission but from this day forward, recognition of the ultimate sacrifice by Lance Cpl. James “Ricky” Baynard is now there for all to see and share.
