Patrick J. Ryan (chaplain)

Chaplain Patrick James Ryan (December 12, 1902 – June 5, 1975) was an American major general who served as Chief of Chaplains of the United States Army from 1954 to 1958.

Patrick James Ryan
Major General Patrick James Ryan 9th Chief of Chaplains of the United States Army
Born	December 12, 1902 Manannah, Minnesota
Died	June 5, 1975 (aged 72) Washington, D.C.
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	United States Army
Years of service	1928–1958
Rank	Major General
Commands held	U.S. Army Chaplain Corps
Battles/wars	World War II Korean War
Awards	Distinguished Service Medal Legion of Merit Bronze Star Medal

Biography

Ryan was born near Manannah Township, Minnesota, on December 12, 1902. He graduated from the College of St. Thomas and the Saint Paul Seminary School of Divinity and became an ordained Roman Catholic priest in 1927. He was later given the title of Monsignor by Pope Pius XII and the title of Prothonotary Apostolic by Pope Paul VI.[1] Ryan died on June 5, 1975, in Washington, D.C..

Career

Ryan joined the United States Army in 1928. Early in his career, he was stationed at Fort Leavenworth, Fort Riley and the Walter Reed Army Medical Center, among other places. During World War II, he served in Morocco and Italy. Following the war, he served as Deputy Chief of Chaplains of the United States Army from 1946 to 1948 and from 1952 to 1954 with the rank of brigadier general. He would then serve as Chief of Chaplains of the United States Army with the rank of major general from 1954 until his retirement in 1958.

Awards he received include the Legion of Merit, the Army Distinguished Service Medal, the Bronze Star Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, the World War II Victory Medal, the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal and the Navy Presidential Unit Citation with award star.

Awards and decorations

	Distinguished Service Medal
	Legion of Merit
	Bronze Star
	Army Commendation Medal
	American Defense Service Medal (with one bronze service star)
	European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal
	World War II Victory Medal
	National Defense Service Medal
	Order of the British Empire (Unknown grade)

References

1. "Monsignor Patrick J. Ryan Papers". University of St. Thomas. Retrieved 2015-06-16.