Kansas National Guard Hall of Fame

Major General Michael W. Ryan was born on 6 January 1945 in Clay Center, Kansas. His military career began when he enlisted in the Kansas Army National Guard in 1963 in the 891st Engineer Battalion, Manhattan, Kansas. He attended Basic Training in Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri and was assigned to the 121st Signal Battalion, Fort Riley, Kansas for On-the-job-Training. He attended Kansas State University, receiving a degree in Architecture. He attended Infantry Officer Candidate School in Fort Benning, Georgia in 1964, was commissioned Second Lieutenant and attended Engineer Officer Basic Course at Fort Belvoir, Virginia.

His first assignment as an officer was as Platoon Leader, Company B, 891st Engineer Battalion in Clay Center. He continued to serve in the Company as Executive Officer and Station Commander in Beloit. During this time he served additional duties as Tactical officer, Weapons and Map Reading Instructor at the Kansas Military Academy. In 1968 he transferred to the 169th Engineer Company, 69th Infantry Brigade and was mobilized to Fort Carson, Colorado. He served as platoon Leader, Executive Officer and Company Commander. He was levied for duty in Vietnam where he served as a Land Clearing Company Commander and Civil Engineer with the 45th Engineer Group. Upon return from Vietnam, he was assigned as transportation Officer of the 69th Infantry Brigade and soon returned to the 891st Engineer Battalion serving as S-4 and S-3. He completed Engineer officer Advanced Course and obtained a Law Degree from Washburn University School of Law. In February 1976 the Engineer Battalion was reorganized into the 1-635th Armor. He served the 1-635th Armor as S-3, Executive officer and Battalion Commander and Chemical Officer of the 69th Infantry Brigade.





			MG MICHAEL W. RYAN
	Major General Michael W. Ryan was born on 6 January 1945 in Clay Center, Kansas. His military career began when he enlisted in the Kansas Army National Guard in 1963 in the 891st Engineer Battalion, Manhattan, Kansas. He attended Basic Training in Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri and was assigned to the 121st Signal Battalion, Fort Riley, Kansas for On-the-job-Training. He attended Kansas State University, receiving a degree in Architecture. He attended Infantry Officer Candidate School in Fort Benning, Georgia in 1964, was commissioned Second Lieutenant and attended Engineer Officer Basic Course at Fort Belvoir, Virginia. His first assignment as an officer was as Platoon Leader, Company B, 891st Engineer Battalion in Clay Center. He continued to serve in the Company as Executive Officer and Station Commander in Beloit. During this time he served additional duties as Tactical officer, Weapons and Map Reading Instructor at the Kansas Military Academy. In 1968 he transferred to the 169th Engineer Company, 69th Infantry Brigade and was mobilized to Fort Carson, Colorado. He served as platoon Leader, Executive Officer and Company Commander. He was levied for duty in Vietnam where he served as a Land Clearing Company Commander and Civil Engineer with the 45th Engineer Group. Upon return from Vietnam, he was assigned as transportation Officer of the 69th Infantry Brigade and soon returned to the 891st Engineer Battalion serving as S-4 and S-3. He completed Engineer officer Advanced Course and obtained a Law Degree from Washburn University School of Law. In February 1976 the Engineer Battalion was reorganized into the 1-635th Armor. He served the 1-635th Armor as S-3, Executive officer and Battalion Commander and Chemical Officer of the 69th Infantry Brigade. He was reassigned from Battalion Command to Administrative Officer of Headquarters, State Area Command and G-1 of the 35th Infantry Division upon its Reactivation. During this time, he completed Armor Officer Advanced Course and Command and General Staff College. In 1986 he was promoted to Colonel and assigned as Director of Plans, Operations and Training and then a Director of Personnel with the State Area Command. In 1988 he was promoted to Brigadier General Serving as Assistant Division Commander (Maneuver) with the 35th Infantry Division. He was later assigned as the Deputy Commander of the State Area Command and assistant Adjutant General for Army. In 1993 he was selected for promotion to Major General serving as Deputy Commanding General of the 5th US Army, Fort Sam Houston, Texas. He retired on 10 February 1997 with 34 years of service to his state and nation. General Ryan’s awards include the Distinguished Service Medal, Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal (2nd Award) Army commendation Medal with V Device and numerous other federal and state awards. General Ryan continues to practice Law in Clay Center, Kansas and is also a Licensed Real Estate Broker, Abstractor and Title Insurance Agent. He is active in Professional Organizations and numerous community affairs. General Ryan and his wife, Marcia, live in Clifton, Kansas where she is a 6th grade Teacher. Between them they have five children, one Daughter-in-Law, three Sons-in-Law and five Grandchildren. He was inducted into the Kansas National Guard Hall of Fame, 6 November 2005.