Want to help a veteran ? Education and compassion help veterans feel heard.

Celebrating Veterans Day is not limited to parades, flag-waving, or ceremonies, it serves as a reminder of the importance of peace, the gratitude we owe to those who have served, and the obligation to hear their individual stories.
Army veteran Chad R. Ryals, Glen Cove’s 2023 Veterans Day honoree, believes the best way to thank a veteran is to understand who each individual veteran is, and the sacrifices they made to protect the country. To get that message across, Ryals has visited both the Glen Cove and North Shore school districts to provide young students with a unique perspective about the sacrifices America’s service members make. He hopes the classroom visits will be an annual tradition during the Memorial and Veteran Day holidays.
Ryals comes from a seven-generational family of veterans and said he is proud to have served his country, but he believes the path to peace is paved with understanding history.
“What good does it do for mankind to be at the top if we destroy everything to get there, then there’s nothing to be on top of,” Ryals said. “Those who lack the knowledge of history are doomed to repeat it.”
Born in Pineville, Louisiana and raised in Converse, Louisiana to William and Betty Ryals, Chad spent his childhood learning the value of hard work starting his days at 4 a.m. He grew up on a 1,200-acre farm, where his family tended to 627 herd of cattle, 3,000 chickens and 480 acres of crops. At age 6, he helped clean, and by age 8 he was mowing the lawn.

Ryals always knew he wanted to honor his family’s lineage to protect American freedom. His father was a Vietnam veteran and his great-great grandfather served in the American Revolution. His mother’s side of the family had members serve in the War of 1812 as well.
Ryals enlisted in the army at 17 years old. He was sent to Ft. Benning, GA, for basic training and Advanced Individual Training as an infantryman. He went on to complete airborne school followed by an air assault course and Ranger Assessment Selection Program. After completing RASP, he was assigned to 3rd Squad, 2nd Platoon Company B2 Battalion 75th Ranger Regiment at Ft. Lewis, Washington, for three months before being deployed to Iraq for Operation Iraqi Freedom. There he fought in the battle for Baghdad, the battle of Fallujah, Ramadi and al Somali. He was later deployed to Afghanistan in the southern Helmand province where he was tasked with finding mule trains — convoys of Taliban fighters coming in from Pakistan.
Ryals left the army with an honorable discharge in 2009 with the rank of staff sergeant. He is the recipient of the Combat Infantry Badge, Basic Parachute Badge, Air Assault Badge, Silver Star, Purple Heart with two Bronze Oak Leaves, Good Conduct Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal with two bronze star devices, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Army Commendation and Army Achievement Medal.
The transition to civilian life wasn’t easy for the highly accomplished veteran. Like many others who faced the stress of combat, Ryals turned to alcohol to cope with his emotions. He credits his father and wife Katherine for his road to recovery.
“I was a train wreck when I came home,” Ryals said. “I was having bad nightmares. I was in a bad place in my life.”
Although the emotional battles post-war vary among veterans, Ryals understands that many need a distraction, and continues to offer his mobile number to veterans who need an understanding ear.
“We may not sit in the same kind of battles, but I want to help my brothers and sisters fight their demons,” Ryals said.