Bard, also known as Baldroy or Baldo, is the head chef of Phantomhive manor. Originally an American farmer, he lived peacefully with his wife Joanna and son Baldroy Jr. Native American raiders, driven by food shortages from US Army overhunting and railway expansion, attacked his village, killing his family and shattering his dreams of a normal life. This trauma led him to enlist as a soldier. He fought in multiple conflicts against Native Americans, including campaigns in Arizona where he faced adversaries called "snakes." A brutal battle wiped out his entire platoon, leaving him the sole survivor. Starving and prepared to cannibalize a fallen comrade, he was found by Sebastian Michaelis, who recruited him into the Phantomhive household under Ciel Phantomhive. Shaped by his military past, Bard stays level-headed in crises, commands fellow servants during emergencies, and carries survivor's guilt. His consistent survival in dire combat earned him the moniker "invincible private soldier." As a chef, he employs unconventional methods, using flamethrowers, blowtorches, or explosives to cook, often resulting in charred or inedible food that Sebastian describes as "charcoal and carcinogens." Despite his culinary failures, Bard pursues cooking to cultivate patience, contrasting his previously fast-paced wartime existence. Within the Phantomhive staff, Bard functions as a senior figure and tactical leader. He coordinates defense strategies, such as orchestrating attacks against circus intruders, and reassures distressed colleagues. He shares a familial bond with fellow servants Mey-Rin and Finnian, guiding them with brotherly concern while occasionally chastising their emotional outbursts. His relationship with Sebastian involves respect mixed with frustration over the butler's formality, though he acknowledges Sebastian's competence. Bard maintains distance from the footman Snake due to Snake's eccentric speech and affinity for reptiles, which unsettle him. During narratives like the Murder Arc, Bard demonstrates resilience by rallying the servants after Sebastian's apparent demise, channeling his experience with loss to motivate them. Later, during Ciel's arrest for identity theft, he remains composed enough to relay coded messages to Sebastian. His minor role in the OVA "His Butler, Performer" involves managing backstage for a charity play, where he prevents Prince Soma from disrupting the performance. Bard's development reflects a gradual integration into the household, balancing his violent history with loyalty to the Phantomhives. He channels his expertise in explosives and combat into protecting the manor, embodying a soldier's pragmatism while confronting the psychological scars of his past.