1LT Mike Maynard (JC 1963), credits GMC for teaching him the all-important lessons of self-discipline and time management, which were of great benefit to him throughout his esteemed military service and civilian career. In addition to excelling in the Corps, Maynard was very involved in GMC athletics. He was named MVP of the Junior College basketball team his sophomore year and led both the basketball and baseball teams as captain. In addition, he was voted “Most Athletic” by his peers in the 1963 Recall.
After graduating in 1963, he continued his ROTC training at Florida State University. Three years later, he commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Field Artillery. After completing the Officers Basic Course at Ft. Sill, OK, he was assigned to Ft. Lewis, Washington, as a Basic Combat Training Officer.
In August of 1967, Maynard deployed to serve in the Vietnam War. He became a Fire Direction Officer with C Battery, 1st Battalion, 77th Artillery (C/1/77) 105mm Howitzers in the 1st Cavalry Division and was promoted to First Lieutenant.
Maynard was awarded the Bronze Star with “V” device for actions on January 3, 1968. 1LT Maynard distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous action while serving as Fire Direction Officer of Battery C, 1st Battalion, 77th Artillery, during a combat support mission in the Republic of Vietnam. When his unit’s perimeter came under an intense enemy mortar, rocket, and ground attack, 1LT Maynard exposed himself to the accurate hostile fire to reestablish communication between the fire direction center and the Howitzer sections. Disregarding his own safety, he directed effective suppressive fire upon the hostile forces, which successfully neutralized the attacking insurgents.
In February, he was then transferred to A Battery, 1st Battalion, 77th Artillery (A/1/77) as an Executive Officer. Due to high casualty rates among forward observers, Maynard spent a few weeks with C/2/5 infantry as a forward observer. While in this position Maynard was awarded another Bronze Star for his actions on March 9, 1968, while serving as a forward observer for Company C, 2nd Battalion, 5th Cavalry during a combat mission near Pho Trach, Republic of Vietnam. When his unit became heavily engaged with a large enemy force, Maynard exposed himself to hostile fire as he moved from position to position to adjust and direct accurate suppressive fire on the insurgent’s positions.
In April he returned to his battery to serve as the XO. While serving as Battery Executive Officer of A Battery, 1st Battalion, 77th Artillery, 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile) in the Republic of Vietnam, during the period May 4 and 5, 1968, 1LT Maynard was awarded the Silver Star for conspicuous gallantry in action. On the afternoon of May 4, his fire base was hit by enemy rocket and artillery fire. The fire struck and ignited ammunition around the Howitzers. When the Battery Commander was medically evacuated, 1LT Maynard assumed command of the battery and continued to rally and inspire his men throughout the night to extinguish the fires and contain the detonation of the ammunition. During the early morning hours of May 5, the firebase was attacked by a numerically superior force of North Vietnamese Regulars. 1LT Maynard repeatedly exposed himself to intense enemy small arms fire to lead his men throughout the firefight. He occupied an exposed and unprotected observation point to personally call in and adjust aerial rocket artillery and supporting artillery fires from another firebase. With these fires and by small arms fire, as well as with close combat by the artillerymen and supporting infantry on the firebase, the attacks were repelled despite suffering heavy casualties. On the morning of May 5, with the firebase still under enemy rocket and artillery fire, 1LT Maynard rallied the survivors to rig the damaged Howitzers and get them airlifted from the firebase.
Additionally, he was awarded the Air Medal, Army Commendation Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnamese Service Medal, and Vietnamese Campaign Medal. In 1997, he was inducted into the Honorable Order of St. Barbara, a prestigious honor for Artillerymen.
Following separation from the service in August of 1968, Maynard and his wife moved to Cocoa Beach, Florida, where he worked at Cape Kennedy during the exciting moon launch. In 1977, he began working in sales with a multinational company that manufactured processing and packaging items for the meat industry. He was named salesman of the year on multiple occasions and served on the Board of Directors for the Southeastern Meat Association for over twenty years before retiring in 2002.
Maynard is a life member of the First Cavalry Division and a life member and past President of the 77th Artillery Regiment Association. He is also a member of the Tallahassee American Legion. In addition to being an avid golfer and taking annual trips to Colorado to ski, he volunteers his time coaching youth sports. His passion for Florida State University athletics is reflected in being a long-time athletic sports booster. He and his wife, Susie, live in Tallahassee, Florida. They have two sons, Mike and Jeff, and have three grandchildren.
