Seneca Valley School District will honor a graduate Friday who died while fighting in Afghanistan.
Sgt. 1st Class Ryan Allen Gloyer, 34, of Zelienople did in November 2016 while fighting in support of Operation Freedom Sentinel.
Sgt. Gloyer was a 2000 graduate of Seneca Valley High School.
On Dec. 28, 2004, Ryan enlisted in the Army with orders that would send him to Airborne Jump Qualification School and Special Forces Selection Course after graduation from boot camp. From day one of his military career, Ryan had his sights set on becoming a part of an elite unit and had a goal and steadfast determination to be a Green Beret. Along Ryan’s journey to becoming a Green Beret, he went to Ranger School and earned his Ranger Tab in April 2006. He also served with the 82nd Airborne and completed two tours of duty in Afghanistan in 2007 and 2009. During his first, 15-month deployment to Afghanistan, Ryan made valorous achievements in support of Operation Enduring Freedom which earned him the Bronze Star Medal with Valor Device and the Meritorious Service Award. In his second 12-month tour of duty to Afghanistan in 2009, he received the Army Commendation Medal under Task Force Fury. In April 2010, Ryan was selected to be inducted into the prestigious Sergeant Audie Murphy Club for his dedicated leadership, exemplary professionalism and high standards of excellence.
In 2013, Ryan completed the Special Forces Selection Course and was accepted into the Special Forces Training Program. After 18 months of intensive training and Russian language instruction, Ryan graduated and finally donned his green beret in September 2014. Upon graduation, Ryan attended the John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School to complete Free Fall training. Ryan was then assigned to the 10th Special Forces Group, 2nd Battalion, located at Fort Carson, Colorado. In May 2015, Ryan deployed to Chad; in June 2016, he deployed to Afghanistan for the third time and was scheduled to return home at the end of November. Ryan was awarded a Purple Heart and a 2nd Bronze Star for his heroism during the battle (The Battle of Boz Qandahari) that took his life.
Ryan’s awards and medals include: the Purple Heart, Bronze Star, Bronze Star with “V” (Valor), two Meritorious Service Medals, two Army Commendation Medals, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with Campaign Star, Combat Infantryman Badge, Expert Infantry Badge, Parachutist Badge, Ranger Tab, Special Forces Tab and Sergeant Audie Murphy Club Medallion.
Sgt. Gloyer’s service and sacrifice will be recognized at NexTier Stadium at 7 p.m. Friday before Seneca Valley plays Pine Richland.
More than 50 other veterans will also be recognized as part of Seneca Valley’s annual Veteran Recognition Night.
