LTC (Ret.) Paul Anthony Hird, 54, of Midland, GA, died Sunday, April 27, 2014, at Columbus Hospice House, in Georgia.
LTC Hird was born in Providence, R.I., a son of the late George A. Hird, Sr. and Mary (Furtado) Hird. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Rhode Island College and received a Master of Science in Nursing and Master of Business Administration from the University of Connecticut. He retired as a Lieutenant Colonel after 20 years of service in the U.S. Army and was deployed with the 86 Medical Task Force in Baghdad, Iraq in 2004-2005. He received numerous awards to include; the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, and the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal.
Since his retirement, he has been employed in healthcare management and administrative roles at various levels within the Military Healthcare System and the Veterans Health Administration. He was currently engaged as the Director of Primary Care at the VHA Medical Center in Birmingham, Al., leading the healthcare operations at fourteen primary care clinics, a Nurse Advice Line, a Home TeleHealth Unit and a Telemedicine Group.
LTC Hird was a faithful member of The Church of the Holy Family as well as an avid runner and competed the Chicago Marathon in 2011 and 2012.
Survivors include his loving wife of 25 years, Julie Tobojka Hird of Midland, GA, son Joseph Patrick Hird, a freshman at Auburn University, and daughter Mary Elizabeth Hird, a sophomore at Columbus High School, as well as his brothers George Hird Jr., Stephen Hird, and David Hird, and numerous other family members.
Visitation Monday at 9-9:30am in St. Philip Church, 622 Putnam Pike, Greenville, RI followed by a mass of Christian Burial at 9:30am Burial in RI Veterans Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family request donations be made to the Wounded Warrior Project P.O. Box 758517 Topeka, KS 66675 www.woundedwarriorproject.org