Allard Barnwell Heyward was born April 9, 1908, in Charleston, South Carolina, to Irvine Keith Heyward and Nina Graham Barnwell.
Not much has been recorded about his early life, but presumably, after completing standard public education, Allard enrolled at The Citadel Military College in 1927.
Allard later graduated from The Citadel in 1931 and joined the United States Naval Reserve.
After a successful tour in the Pacific Theatre in 1941-1942 as a Junior Lieutenant, Allard was placed on board the USS Goldfinch AM-77 where he served as a Lieutenant and eventually became the Commanding Officer of the vessel.
In late 1943, Allard was transferred to the USS Tide AM-125 where he took the place as the vessel's Commanding Officer.
The USS Tide participated in the D-Day landings on Utah Beach, protecting the convoys in the Channel in the night of 5 to 6 June, and oof the coast on the 6th. On June 7, the vessel struck a mine that blew with such force that the Tide was lifted out of the water by a few centimeters, killing many of those on board instantly or soon after, including LCDR Heyward.
LCDR Crane, the vessel's Executive Officer took command and evacuated the survivors before the USS Tide finally sank.
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