Ryan goes 'for a ride,' earns medal for actions

Kenny Ryan couldn't wait to get off the family farm, so he tried for an early enlistment in the military.

Just months away from turning 17, he had to wait because his dad refused to give consent.

“He was determined I was going to be a farmer, and I was determined not to. He wouldn't sign my papers until after the harvest.”

Once enlisted, Ryan set his sights on gaining admission to the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, Md.

He scored high on the aptitude examination — good enough for acceptance to the academy — but his plans were waylaid by a beautiful girl in a blue satin dress.

“I was determined no girl was going to get into my life — I was going to Annapolis,” he said.

But then he went to a USO dance and met Mary Lou.

They married six weeks later — and celebrated their 67th anniversary this year.

Annapolis was out, as married men were not allowed to attend the academy.

Ryan became a radioman, and flew aboard the two-man, one-engine OS2U Kingfisher, an observation float plane that could take off and land on water.

While patrolling in the Aleutian Islands near Alaska, orders came over that planes were not to be flown within 25 miles of Kiska — one of the islands in the Aleutian chain the U.S. was targeting.

“We'd been on patrol,” said Ryan. “The ships were lined up waiting for the invasion of Kiska.”

Ryan and the pilot noticed movement on the island and flew over to get a better look.

“They (the Japanese) were setting in a 20 mm or 40 mm gun to shoot at our troops when they land,” he said.

Since the plane was still on floats, the two headed back to base for some adjustments.

Wheels were put on the plane and it was loaded with two 375-pound depth charges.

Against orders, they took off, intent on taking out the enemy.

Once over the target, they went into a dive, Ryan firing away on a machine gun while the pilot made the drop.

“They started shooting back at us,” Ryan said. “We got two near-misses. It wiped everything out. The guys on the open ground just disappeared.”

Back at the air base, Ryan heard the pilot was reprimanded and confined to quarters for a week, “supposedly on bread and water.”

The top brass learned about the incident when some guys on the ships sent congratulations to the base for knocking out the gun emplacement.

Questioned by superiors, Ryan said he answered, “Hey, I was just along for the ride.”

Ryan's commanding officer commended his young charge's actions, awarding him combat air crewman's wings with one star, signifying air-to-ground combat.

The officer told him “go get your uniform on,” Ryan said.

When he returned in uniform, “he pinned the wings and ribbons on me,” Ryan said proudly.