Lieutenant General Michael J Byron "Iron Mike" U. S. Marine Corps (Ret.) a highly decorated veteran of the Vietnam War, beloved husband, father and grandfather, died on December 16, 2025. Born to William and Helen Byron (nee Vennard) of Albany NY, he was predeceased by his brothers Timothy, Kevin, and Dr. Peter Manning Byron.

General Byron was shaped during his formative years on Delaware Ave, in Albany NY.  The Byron and Manning families immigrated from Ireland during the famine. Working in the textile mills and Iron foundries of Cohoes NY, they eventually became prominent members of the Albany Police and Troy Fire departments. From a young age General Byron was raised on stories of his Great Grandfather Patrick "Patsy" Byron the Fire Chief of Troy New York, a renowned and fearless leader who died from injuries fighting a fire at the age of 75.

Not unlike his family members before him, Mike Byron was a natural leader, taught the value of character and service, born to be a Marine he naturally moved to the action and service to his country. He decided at the age of 8, after his first viewing of the movie The Sands of Iwo Jima, that he would become a United States Marine. His mother agreed to support his decision, but only if he promised to go to college first.

After the untimely death of his father, the family moved to Puerto Rico where he attended the local Puerto Rican school. As the only "redhead" there, out of necessity he became a proficient pugilist, skin diver and fluent in Spanish. In 1959 he attended the University of Miami, and was selected for Marine Corps officer training under the Platoon Leaders Class (PLC) program. During this time he was a member of the University of Miami Track and Field Team, as a distance runner specializing in the mile. In 1963 he graduated with a bachelor's degree in Latin American Studies and was commissioned a second lieutenant.

He was sent to Vietnam on a temporary intelligence assignment from late 1964 to early 1965 in advance of the Marines entry into Vietnam. He returned again to Vietnam as a rifle platoon commander with 1st Battalion Third Marines, and landed at Danang in 1965. He was wounded during combat operations and was awarded the Silver Star for gallantry in action. In 1968 he became fluent in the Vietnamese language and volunteered for a second combat tour as a battalion advisor to the 1st Battalion Vietnamese Marine Corps. Over his 42 year career he served in various command and staff assignments in both the Atlantic and Pacific theaters of operation. He commanded units ranging from company commander to division commander (3rd Marine Division). General Byron held multiple key staff positions including, Director and acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for the Interamerican Region, Military Assistant to the Undersecretary of Defense for Policy, the Director of Plans and Policy for the US Atlantic Command and the Vice Director for Strategy, Plans, and Policy, the Joint Staff. General Byron was the first Marine to serve as the US Military Representative to the NATO military committee in Brussels as well as the Deputy Chairman of the NATO military committee.

Byron was a voracious reader in all aspects of the art of warfare and the study of its great captains. As a practitioner, General Byron's leadership and mastery of the art of warfare inspired confidence from the Jungles of Vietnam and Arctic cold of Norway to the halls of the Pentagon and the White House. General Byron retired in July, 2001, remaining at the forefront of his profession for over 40 years. After retirement General Byron worked for a private company providing support for the US government and allies in the middle east and Africa from 2001-2012.

He is survived by his wife Kathleen M. Byron (nee Hannegan) of Green Valley, AZ, his son, Col. Patrick C. Byron USMC(Ret.), married to Attracta of Coronado, CA; daughters Bridget M. Byron of Kill Devil Hills, NC; and Megan A. Harwin, married to Alec Harwin of Park City, UT; and three loving grandchildren, Helen, Ace, and Layne. They and his many friends and colleagues remember him for his unmatched personality; his love of a good cigar, 18 holes of golf, fine cuisine, a conversation over a glass of Irish whiskey, and his faithful dog Ivy. Byron's friendships were of great importance to him as well as his family life, and he found close lifelong friends both in his community as well as career with international partners and allies. Byron was well known for his sharp intellect, lightning-fast wit and the more than occasional practical joke.

Deeply intelligent and endlessly curious, he was fluent in 4 languages, a natural teacher to many and a lifelong student himself. He was fiercely proud of his Irish heritage and Albany roots, relished a good debate, and found his greatest pleasure in his wife and family. Apart from his family, Michael J. Byron's greatest love was the United States Marine Corps, and the Marines with whom he served against all odds in every clime and place.

General Byron will be laid to rest with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery at a date to be determined. A Memorial service will be held at 10:00 am on Friday March 27, 2026 at Our Lady of the Valley Catholic Church, at 505 N La Canada Dr. Green Valley, AZ 85614. A reception will follow services at the Byron home in Green Valley AZ 85614. Online condolences may be expressed at https://www.greenvalleymortuary.net