Who was Luke Bird and what happened to him? Naval academy midshipman remembered three years after tragic accident

Author and speaker Chad Bird remembered his late son, Luke Bird, on what would have been his 25th birthday. 

In a heartfelt post, the YouTuber remembered his child, praised him, and reflected upon the memories he left behind. For those unaware, Luke Gabriel Bird was a 2nd Class midshipman (junior) at the United States Naval Academy (USNA). 

An alumnus of New Braunfels High School, the 21-year-old was previously involved in athletics and student government. He represented his high school’s wrestling team for three years, while also being the National Honor Society vice president. Luke Bird also served as the battalion commander of the NBHS Marine Corps JROTC unit.

He was among five Marine Corps JROTC cadets to receive the Legion of Valor Bronze Cross for Achievement. According to USNA, Bird received the honor in November 2018 for his “outstanding achievement in both scholastic and military subjects” alongside a demonstration of outstanding leadership in school and community. 

In July 2022, Luke died after falling over Salto El Agua waterfall in Placilla, Chile. The Academy announced on July 18 that Chilean authorities discovered the midshipman’s body on the previous day in a lagoon of the waterfall. Bird was reportedly hiking with a Chilean Naval Academy student on July 16, when he lost his footing around 11:00 am local time and fell. 

The then-USNA Superintendent, Vice Adm. Sean Buck, expressed his condolences after the midshipman’s unfortunate death. He was quoted as saying (via usna.edu): 

“We are incredibly saddened by the tragic loss of Midshipman Luke Bird this weekend.” 

He added: 

“My wife, Joanne, and I and the entire Naval Academy community offer our sincerest condolences to Luke’s family, friends, and fellow midshipmen during this difficult time. I encourage all of our Naval Academy family to offer support to one another as we navigate the grieving process.”

At the time, Luke Bird was participating in a semester abroad program at Chile’s Arturo Prat Naval Academy. 

Luke Bird’s father remembered his late son on his 25th birth anniversary

Chad, a Lutheran theologian, paid a heartfelt tribute to his child, who lost his life to a hiking accident more than three years ago. In his social media posts, the author-speaker shared how Luke would have turned 25 on Monday, October 20, and added: 

“He was with us for twenty-one years in this world. We will soon visit his grave at the United States Naval Academy.” 

Chad described Luke as a “110% guy,” while writing: 

“If I may borrow a saying of Jesus, if you asked Luke to go one mile with you, he would say, ‘I’ve got a better idea. Let’s run ten miles. Uphill. With a pack on.’”

Luke Bird’s father mentioned an anecdote from his son’s 18th birthday and recounted how the late midshipman got up in the middle of the night and went for an 18-mile walk for fun. Chad continued: 

“He was the president of his senior class and the recipient of national awards in JROTC. When a wrestling injury kept him from starting at the Naval Academy right after his senior year, he just buckled down, worked hard, and started a year later.” 

He shared how Luke’s friends and fellow midshipmen started sending him and his family messages. Chad shared: 

“They told us things Luke never would have mentioned himself: all the times he volunteered, stayed after class to help struggling students, and offered words of encouragement to those who were down.” 

Chad Bird wrote: 

“I don’t think I will ever be able to write words like that without tears of gratitude for the kind of man he was. But “was” is not the right verb. That is the kind of man Luke is. For a Christian, like Luke, there truly is no 'was.' Luke has never stopped living. He lived here for twenty-one years, then stepped from the front porch of his Father’s house, through the door of physical death, into the heavenly habitation of Christ.” 

Chad asserted that he and his family miss Luke and concluded his heartfelt message: 

“Every day my heart hurts because I miss him. But I also know that one day, one glorious day, he and I, along with all believers in Christ, will stand together before our Lord. Until that day, my mission is simple: to try to be at least half the man my son became in only twenty-one years; to live in Christ; and to share the Gospel, that many others may hear, believe, and join me and Luke and all Christians on that glorious day of resurrection joy.”

Luke Bird is survived by his father, Chad Bird; stepmother, Stacy Bird; and his mother, Audra Courter; and stepfather, Matthew Craig Courter.