First Sergeant (Retired) David Boydstun

Army Instructor, Stratford High School

   First Sergeant (Retired) David W. Boydstun was born at West Point, NY and raised in Jesup, Georgia. He holds an Associate’s Degree in Business Arts from Phoenix University with other educational credits from Central Texas College, Big Bend College and Trident Technical College. A combat veteran of Desert Shield / Storm, he has been an Army JROTC Instructor for the past 15 years at Stratford High School. His illustrious military career culminated while serving as the Senior Enlisted Instructor at The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina.

   He entered the Army in 1977 as an Airborne Infantryman and served with distinction in significant leadership positions that spanned the globe. While deployed in support of Desert Shield /Storm he earned the highly coveted Combat Infantryman Badge and Bronze Star Medal.

Some of his key assignments in the Army include impressive tours of duty at Fort Bragg, NC (Squad Leader); Fort Stewart, GA (Section Sergeant); Fort Wainwright, AK (Section Sergeant and Platoon Sergeant); Vilseck, Germany (Platoon Sergeant and First Sergeant) and rounding out his stellar career at The Citadel (Senior Enlisted Instructor).

    First Sergeant Boydstun’ s extensive military education and training includes the Indirect Fire Course; Basic Airborne Course; Jumpmaster Course; Basic Non-Commissioned Officer Course; Battalion Training Management Systems Course; Nuclear-Chemical-Biological Course; Winter Operations Instructor Course; Unit Armor Course; Drill Sergeant Course; Expert Marksmanship Qualification Badge with Pistol and Rifle; and the Master Fitness Trainer Course. It’s noteworthy to mention that he was the Honor Graduate for the Primary and Basic Non-Commissioned Officer course.

    First Sergeant Boydstun is a highly decorated combat veteran who’s awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal; Meritorious Service Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters; Army Commendation Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster; Army Achievement Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster; National Defense Service Medal; Southwest Asia Service Medal with 3 Bronze Service Stars; Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia); Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait); Good Conduct Medal; Overseas Service Ribbon; Noncommissioned Officer’s Professional Development Ribbon with Numeral 3; Army Service Ribbon; Master Rated Parachutist Badge; Combat Infantry Badge; Expert Marksmanship Badge and the Drill Sergeant Identification Badge. He is also the recipient of the prestigious Cadet Command Gold Medallion Award for excellence as an Army JROTC Instructor.

    First Sergeant Boydstun is married to the former Bettina Knorr of Germany. They have two children. Daniel (27) who graduated top of his Engineering class at the University of South Carolina and is employed with Boeing and Christopher (25) who graduated from the University of South Carolina with an Computer Engineering degree. He also has a daughter, Frances Klotch curently working as a paralegal. He has 3 grandkids from his daughter Frances; Caitlin, Aubrey and Jackson.