From Cold War to Community Service

Milwaukie resident Robert H. Ryan was born and raised in Germany until the end of fourth grade, and he viewed America as a land of opportunity. His stepfather’s Army career led to frequent relocations and immersed him in the realities of the Cold War. He graduated from an American high school in Heidelberg in 1975 and saw military service as his entry into adulthood. Robert’s initial goal was the Navy, but the Army became his route.

Robert served in the U.S. Army from 1975 to 1979 and was stationed in Louisiana before deploying to Germany. He became a naturalized U.S. citizen to qualify for the assignment and avoid the German military draft. His service continued with the Oregon Army National Guard from 1984 to 2016. He returned for the structure and camaraderie, starting as a tool and parts clerk and later becoming an engineer equipment maintenance technician and warrant officer.

His military career paralleled his civilian employment in defense logistics at Camp Withycombe. Robert’s family moved frequently when he was a child and he had to navigate life as a non-native English speaker, which presented many challenges. Without a strong family support system, Robert learned self-reliance. The military instilled values of trust and discipline, though he found that honesty was not always appreciated. His experiences reinforced his belief in verification and direct communication.

Robert moved to Oregon on a whim when a friend from the Army invited him to come up and work with him. He tried community college but slowly realized he was better suited for a blue-collar job. After working in construction and warehousing, Robert realized he missed the military environment. Through his experiences with Youth Soccer, he found a Federal full-time job working on military equipment at Camp Withycombe.

Robert encourages young people considering the military to choose a career path with post-service

applications. Education and skill development open doors. His ideal do-over would involve the Air Force or Navy and focus on long-term career potential. Robert’s retirement in 2016 has allowed him to travel, including a solo motorcycle trip across the U.S. Volunteering at the Oregon Military Museum, American Legion, and with local volunteer firefighters, service remains central to his life.

Robert hopes civilians recognize that every veteran’s experience is unique. Understanding their challenges takes more than appreciation — it calls for awareness of individual journeys.