SPC Ryan T. Rhoads
Specialist 
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Hometown: South Plainfield, NJ. Died: May 21, 2015 Age: 23 Unit: HB 1st Battalion, 76th FA Regiment, 4BCT, Fort Stewart, Georgia. SPC Ryan T. Rhoads, 23, of South Plainfield, New Jersey died on May 21, 2015 in Hinesville, GA. Ryan was born March 13, 1992 in New Brunswick, NJ, and raised in North Plainfield until his family moved to South Plainfield in April 2000. He graduated from South Plainfield High School in 2010, furthered his education at Middlesex County College, and Middlesex County Adult Vo-Tech School receiving a certificate in HVAC & Refrigeration.
Ryan's Army career began on March 5, 2013 as a Private Second Class and completed basic training at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. He graduated in the top 10% of his class and was promoted to Private First Class. He remained at Fort Sill for advanced training in the 78th Field Artillery and upon graduation was assigned to Fort Stewart, Georgia. In November 2014 he was promoted to Specialist. His occupation was Fire Support Specialist (13F) in the HB 1st Battalion, 76th FA Regiment, 4BCT. He was proud to be a "Fister" and looking forward to deploying later in 2015. Ryan was posthumously awarded the Army Achievement Medal. Ryan was a young man of traditional values built on a foundation of integrity, love of family, community and his country. He had a natural talent of extending himself and his brotherly love to all that had the opportunity to know him. He was a son that lived a life of 23 short years but in that time will forever be remembered by those that he loved, and touched, as a gentle and caring man who was committed to being a guardian of the American way of life. Ryan loved life and had a mischievous nature about him that made every day wonderful because it kept us on our toes. He touched so many lives with his laughter, smile and pranks. There was a true sentimental nature to Ryan. He loved the outdoors, camping, amusement parks, his rowboat at the lake, the beach in Lavallette and our many vacations, too long to name. The only sports team he followed was the NJ Devils. Ryan had a great love for animals and is missed by his cat, Todd. He met the rank of Life as a Boy Scout in the South Plainfield Troops 207 and 267. Ryan always wanted to ride a motorcycle but Mom and Dad tried hard to curb the itch. In 2014 he purchased his first and then upgraded to a bigger model in early 2015. He loved his Harley and rode on weekends with his Army buddies. Ryan is survived by his loving parents, Barbara and Trent Rhoads, and younger brother and sister, Andrew and Hannah Rhoads. Ryan was the best big brother to them. He is also survived by his maternal grandparents, Kenneth and Mary Sarte, paternal grandparents, Alice and Richard Lee, Florida and Wayne Rhoads as well as his loving aunts and uncles, cousins, members of the Rabon and McClain families as well as numerous close friends. He was interred on May 30, 2015 at Holy Redeemer Cemetery, South Plainfield, NJ. 
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