I was a US Army active duty physician (for about 20 yrs).
I did my medical school training in Washington DC and had multiple rotations at Walter Reed Army Medical Center.’
Prior to medical school, I was a combat medic in 82d and a FA officer with tours in the 82d, XVIIIth ABN Corps and SOCOM.
One day, while at WRAMC, one of my fellow medical school students, who knew of my previous association with the Airborne, told me that there was an old retired brigadier general on the ward.
To my surprise, it was BG Ryder, the original test platoon commander.
I was in awe and recounted to him the reverence instilled in us as young paratroopers in the 82d who were required to know our military heritage.
He seemed delighted that I was aware of his past and told me the following story:’
By the end of the war, he had risen from 1LT to COL and was on the personal staff of General of the Army Douglas McArthur in occupied Japan.
COL Ryder’’s wife was allowed to be with her husband in Japan and had the distinction of deliverying the first American dependent in occupied Japan.
Well, GOA McArthur, true to form seized this publicity opportunity and demanded to be the child’s godfather.
COL Ryder then explained that his son had the distinct additional honor of pissing on the good general!
Mike
Topic: Meeting BG Ryder (Read 2573 times)