Fr. Ryan L. McDaniel cited for rare dedication in support of troops. Courtesy photo
AMS News:
ROCHELLE, IL — A Catholic chaplain serving in the Illinois National Guard (ILNG) has received high praise for his role in the fight against COVID-19.
Father Ryan L. McDaniel (Ch., Capt.), and his Religious Affairs Specialist (SPC) Bryan Neice, were recently commended for their service to troops supporting multi-agency operations at a 330-thousand-square-foot warehouse in Rochelle, where the state is storing emergency supplies related to the COVID-19 response and other Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) related resources.
In an email to senior Illinois National Guard chaplains and Father McDaniel’s military superiors, the Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge (NCOIC) of Team (TM) Rochelle—a joint operation involving both the Illinois Army and Air National Guard—First Sergeant (1SG) Erik Royer (1644th Transportation Company), ILARNG, wrote the following:
“I am writing this email in regards to Ch McDaniel and SPC Neice. They were the team assigned to TM Rochelle. I was very impressed with the dedication and support of this team to the welfare of my Soldiers. The Duo didn’t just show up, look around, ask some questions and leave. I was surprised.
“I have been in the service for 30 years and it is very rare to see the Chaplain mingle with the troops, play some games, and administer services in the work place on a weekly basis. He (Father McDaniel) and a fellow chaplain conducted a forum at our hotel concerning the (recent) riots and how it was affecting individual Soldiers. They became a part of the team and established a trust with my Soldiers. I truly think that would not have been possible without the leg work that was done.
“Sirs the point to this email is to say that this is a great example of how it should be done. Not necessarily in the same way our Chaplain accomplished success, but in each Chaplains own way. Without that bonding you won’t reach near as many Soldiers nor have their trust.”
The accolade from an Army National Guard First Sergeant was very encouraging to Father McDaniel, who serves in the Air National Guard. Father McDaniel said, “I am humbled and honored by First Sergeant Royer’s feedback to our senior chaplains on this mission. As an Air Force Chaplain Corps, our vision includes caring for Airmen better than anyone thinks possible. This is what we strive for. That this feedback comes not from an Airman but from a Soldier reflects the truly Joint nature of our integrated Army and Air response to the pandemic in the National Guard.”
Father McDaniel added, “I could not be prouder of our Guardsmen during this mission; their professionalism and outstanding performance amidst our national emergency has been absolutely stellar. I am grateful to have had the opportunity to serve our nation’s finest during this nationwide emergency response mission. Our nation called, our Guardsmen answered with dedication and excellence. Over 46,000 Guardsmen responded nationwide; let their collective service to our nation inspire us all. It was my honor to serve them in Illinois.”
Father McDaniel is a priest of the Byzantine Catholic Archeparchy of Pittsburg, which, like other Eastern Catholic Churches, exists in communion with the Roman Catholic Church. Father McDaniel, whose COVID-19 deployment began on May 18 and will end near the end of July, serves with endorsement and faculties from the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA.
Catholic U.S. Military chaplains are legendary for going beyond the call of duty. Some of the most outstanding examples include Father Emil J. Kapaun, CH (CPT), USA, who died in 1951 in a North Korean Prisoner of War (POW) camp; Maryknoll Father Vincent R. Capodanno, CHC, LT, USN, killed in combat in 1967 in Vietnam; and Father Henry T. (Tim) Vakoc, CH (MAJ), USA, who died in 2009 from injuries suffered from a roadside bomb attack in Iraq. Since the Civil War, only five U.S. Military chaplains have received the Medal of Honor, the nation’s highest military decoration; all five were Catholic priests. Lesser known are the unsung Catholic priest-chaplains who go out of their way, day in and day out, to serve those who serve. Chaplains like Father Ryan L. McDaniel.
