In 1966 , Morris R. McBride Elementary School was dedicated to the memory of CPT Morris R. McBride. CPT McBride was a soldier, a leader, and an American hero.

A 1957 graduate of the United States Military Academy, CPT McBride came to Fort Benning for the Infantry Officer Basic Course before heading to Italy to serve in the 52nd Armored Infantry Regiment. He returned to Fort Benning for the Infantry Captain's Career Course and then volunteered for duty in the Republic of Vietnam. While serving in Vietnam, CPT McBride was an advisor to a Vietnamese Ranger Company. In April 1964, during an attack, the Vietnamese commander was wounded, and CPT McBride assumed command. Under heavy machine gun and mortar fire, CPT McBride stayed with the covering force and was the last to withdraw after directing the company through successive positions. During the withdrawal, CPT McBride stopped to give assistance to the wounded Vietnamese commander and was then mortally wounded. For his courage in bringing the company back to safety with no regard fro himself, CPT McBride was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Cross.

CPT McBride lived a life which exemplified our Army values. His love for learning, his care for children, and his commitment to selfless service make Morris McBride an ideal namesake for our school.

The students of our school have learned about their hero. They had a "Curious About Morrie" Day November 7, 2006. CPT McBride's friends called him Morrie, and through those friends, the students learned that Morrie was an athlete, an adventurer, a skydiver, a musician, and even a singer who loved to learn about foreign cultures and customs. It was an opportunity for the students to understand more about Morrie McBride.

With the help of our Partners In Education, BCTB, and others, our students learned about the Distinguished Service Cross and other military ribbons and awards, skydiving, and Vietnamese songs and cultures. We met a new friend, Jason Robertson, who had been an orphan rescued from Vietnam and adopted by a family in Alabama. After learning about CPT McBride, our hero, the students wrote about heroes in their lives.

On November 17, 2006, our school was rededicated in memory of CPT Morris R. McBride after "Forty Years of Excellence." This important day, which allowed us to reconnect with our past, was a time to hold up the life of CPT McBride as an example for all of us to follow. In this ceremony, our principal, Mrs. Phyllis L. Parker, pledged to give our students every opportunity to remember the man for which our school is named and to give our students every opportunity to practice the Army values, the values by which CPT McBride lived his life.

It was a great honor that CPT McBride's widow and other family members were able to attend our rededication. The school had not been able to locate any of CPT McBride's family, but when an article about "Curious About Morrie" Day was published in the Columbus Ledger-Inquirer, local family members saw the article and contacted her about the rededication.

We were also honored to have USMA Class of '57 members attend our program.

The commander of the Basic Combat Training Brigade, COL Charles W. Durr, Jr., spoke to the students and guests at the rededication program. He also presented CPT McBride with the Order of St. Maurice Award, which is presented to those who demonstrate the highest standards of integrity and moral character and who serve the United States Army Infantry or the Infantry community with distinction.

COL (Ret) Scott, CPT McBride's college roommate, accepted the award on behalf of CPT McBride, and then he presented it to Mrs. Parker who will place the award in the school hall where all future generations can see it and learn about CPT McBride.

After the formal ceremony, in honor of CPT McBride, who loved skydiving, the Command Exhibition Parachute Team, the Silver Wings, performed a precision jump on to Patriots Field next to the school.

Links below contain pictures of our "Curious About Morrie" Day and the rededication along with printed articles about these events.

"Curious About Morrie" Day

November 17, 2006, Rededication

November 7, 2006, article

November 10, 2006, article

November 16, 2006, article

November 18, 2006, article

November 22, 2006, article

Student's Words about Morris R. McBride

1966 article

Page last modified March 10, 2008

Army Values -
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Honor
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