Condolences to her fiance, her family, and her friends.
Loyd, 36, remembered for strong-natured will
By Eva Ruth Moravec - Express-News
The second- and third-degree burns that engulfed 60 percent of Paula Loyd’s body persistently got infected and finally claimed the 36-year-old’s life.
In November, Loyd was in Afghanistan as a social scientist for BAE Systems, according to a BAE news release. She was embedded with troops as part of the Human Terrain System program, which pairs social scientists with ground troops to interview citizens of Iraq and Afghanistan and improve relationships.
According to a recent San Antonio Express-News story, Loyd approached a man carrying a fuel jug Nov. 4. Without warning, the man doused Loyd with gasoline and set her on fire. Loyd’s colleague threw her into water and she was airlifted to Brooke Army Medical Center, where she died Wednesday.
“She’s very strong-natured, and we had hope,” said Loyd’s mother, Patricia Ward. “The doctors told us when someone tries as hard as she did, it makes them try harder, too.”
Raised in Alamo Heights, Loyd had tried hard her whole life, her mother said. She attended high school in the Virgin Islands and Connecticut, received degrees at Wellesley College and at Georgetown University, then spent four years on active duty with the U.S. Army in Korea, and four years as a reservist in Bosnia-Herzegovina.
In Afghanistan, she worked for the United Nations, the U.S. Agency for International Development and RTI International before joining BAE last September.
“Paula’s vast experience in Afghan reconstruction efforts, her thorough professionalism and gentle demeanor had a profound impact on the units she supported,” said Ted Wright, acting president of BAE’s Technology Solutions and Services. “She was committed to helping improve conditions in Afghanistan.”
The Moonlight Fund, which supports burn victims in the service and their families, has established an account in Loyd’s name.
“The checks are coming from around the world,” said Celia Jones, co-founder of the fund. “She touched a lot of lives in her short life, and the family would like for her legacy of kindness and caring to carry on.”
While she was at BAMC, Adam Millsap, a childhood friend, organized blood drives that raised a total of 47 pints.
“She always was kind and had a ready smile, she was helpful and a good friend,” Millsap said. “She had people’s best interests at heart.”
PAULA LOYD
BORN: June 9, 1972,
in San Antonio
DIED: Jan. 7, 2009,
in San Antonio
SURVIVED BY:
her mother, Patricia Ward and husband Terrence of St. Thomas; fiance Frank Muggeo of Fort Bragg; brothers Paul B. Loyd Jr. and wife Penny, William M. Loyd and wife Stephanie; sisters Kathryn Machuga and husband Bill, and Polly Lines and husband Marcus.
SERVICES: A celebration of life will begin at 2 p.m. on Jan. 10 at Porter Loring’s North Chapel, 2102 N. Loop 1604 East.
Not guilty!
And I agree with a poster on nola.com, to have done otherwise than shoot the vile snake, he would have lost "face" and emboldened our enemies into attacking more innocent civilians who are only trying to help the people of Afghanistan.
Adnan Khashoggi allegedly lived a wild life in the West, including arms dealing, and many scandals, and then would go home to Saudi Arabia and nothing was said even though it was known to the other elites there but when he got too public about it and the average (vulgar) person in Saudi found out about it, Khashoggi allegedly had to be disgraced and distanced by the Royals. He allegedly caused the Royals and Saudi Arabia to "lose face".