Local News: Memorial Day speaker continues family tradition (5/26/22)

McCOOK, Neb. — The second of two sons of one McCook family will speak at this year’s Memorial Day services.

Retired U.S. Air Force Col. John Rye spoke at the 2019 services, and his younger brother, Lt. Col. Jim Rye, on active duty with the U.S. Army, will be the speaker this year. They are the sons of Dave and Val Rye of McCook.

The McCook American Legion Post 203 plans 2022 Memorial Day services, 10:30 a.m. Monday, May 30. The ceremony will be held at the Veteran’s Memorial Monument located near the north section of Memorial Park Cemetery in McCook.

Lt. Col. James Rye is stationed at Fort Hood, Texas.

While June 21st this year marks the first day of summer, Memorial Day has long been the holiday more eagerly associated with the start of the season. Memorial Day is the time to recount the sacrifice of all America’s warriors, honor the memory of America’s fighting men and women who died defending our nation and honor our family heritage. The observance usually includes the decoration of veteran’s and family graves, and in fact was originally known as “Decoration Day”. The public is encouraged to attend this brief yet honorable Memorial Day service.

Lt. Col. Jim Rye is an Active Duty Civil Affairs Officer currently stationed at Fort Hood Texas as the G9 – Civil Affairs officer/planner.

He redeployed in spring of 2021 from Poznan, Poland where he served as the Chief of Staff for 1st Cavalry Division Forward in support of Operation Atlantic Resolve.

He has been deployed eight times (75 months) overseas in his 25 years of military service. He has been deployed to Bosnia (’97), Iraq twice (’05-06; ’10-11), Afghanistan four times (’08; ’14-15; ’16-’17; ’19), and now Poland. When not deployed, LTC Rye lives in Georgetown, TX and has two children, Turner (11 year old) and Laney (8 years old).

LTC Rye was born in Omaha and grew up in McCook, Nebraska graduating in 1992 from McCook Senior High. He graduated from the University of Nebraska-Kearney (UNK), where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice with Distinguished Military Graduate honors. Through the UNK Army ROTC program, he was commissioned as a Regular Army Second Lieutenant. During his tenure with the Army, LTC Rye’s assignments have included Battalion Chemical Officer, Mechanized Smoke platoon leader, Battalion Adjutant, Battalion Operations officer, Government Support Team Leader, Provincial Reconstruction Team Deputy Commander, civil affairs officer/planner, USFOR-A Deputy Chief of Staff, TAAC-S Senior Advisor and Chief of Staff Forward. LTC Rye’s commands include Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Personnel Services Battalion, The Commanding General’s Mounted Color Guard, Fort Riley Kansas and Civil Affairs Company Commander. During his eight deployments he supported NATO Stability Forces in Bosnia, Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation New Dawn in Iraq, Operation Enduring Freedom and Freedom’s Sentinel in Afghanistan, and Operation Atlantic Resolve in Europe.

LTC Rye’s awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal (with two oak leaf clusters), Defense Meritorious Service medal (with one oak leaf cluster), Meritorious Service Medal (with two oak leaf cluster), Joint Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal (with four oak leaf clusters), Joint Service Achievement Medal, Army Achievement Medal (with three oak leaf clusters), Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Afghan Campaign Medal (with four campaign stars), Iraqi Campaign Medal (with three campaign stars), NATO Medal and Army Parachutist Badge.

LTC Rye is a graduate of the Army’s Chemical Officer Basic course, Adjutant General Captains Career Course, Civil Affairs course, U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, and the Army Military Advisor Training Academy.