Patrick J. Ryan

Patrick James Ryan (3 December 1902 – 5 June 1978) was an American major general and Catholic priest who served as the 9th Chief of Chaplains of the United States Army from 1954 to 1958. Only briefly serving in a parish after his ordination for the Archdiocese of Saint Paul in 1927, he entered the Army Reserve as a chaplain in 1928. During World War II he served in North Africa and Italy where he earned numerous honors and awards, including appointment as an Officer of the Order of the British Empire. After the war, he held various roles at the Pentagon and at the Sixth Army in San Francisco before becoming Chief of Chaplains in 1954. At the time of his appointment he was the youngest man to have held the role, at 51 years old.

Early life and education Ryan was born in Manannah Township, Minnesota, near Litchfield, on 3 December 1902. He participated in the Operation Avalanche landings at Salerno. Along with other military officials, he was received in audience by Pope Pius XII on 7 June 1944.

Post-war Ryan returned from overseas in July 1945, and began serving in the Pentagon in September as director of plans and training in the office of Chief of Chaplains. Ryan was visiting troops in Korea at the time. He was sworn in on 1 May 1954, with the rank of major general. At the age of 51, he was the youngest to ever hold the role.

During his time as Chief of Chaplains, Ryan established a 16-week "postgraduate" course for senior chaplains. He stated that a chaplain must not be "some effete busybody or do-gooder... nor a religious recluse living in an ivory tower. He is a virile, fully-trained specialist." He retired as chief of chaplains on 30 October 1958.

Later years After his retirement from the military, Ryan authored a book published by Random House entitled A Soldier Priest Talks to Youth that covered the topics of smoking, drinking, sex, and other relevant topics for adolescents. He also served as the executive vice president of the Catholic Digest. and died on 5 June 1978, in Washington, D.C. He was one of four alumni of the Saint Paul Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota, to become the Chief of Chaplains of the United States Army, the other three being Francis L. Sampson, Patrick J. Hessian, and Donald W. Shea.

Awards and decorations Awards Ryan received include the following:

Distinguished Service MedalLegion of MeritBronze Star Medal Army Commendation MedalAmerican Defense Service Medal (with one bronze service star)European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal (with arrowhead device and five campaign stars)American Campaign MedalWorld War II Victory MedalNational Defense Service MedalOfficer of the Order of the British EmpireOrder of the Crown of Italy

Dates of rank Ryan's dates of rank were: