By DIANE SCHLINDWEIN
Managing Editor 

ALTON — Nearly 84 years after Robert “Bob” Ryan graduated as a member of the Class of 1941 at Marquette Catholic High School in Alton, he was presented with a class ring to replace his original ring that he lost under extremely difficult circumstances. For that reason and to honor him, on April 23, members of Ryan’s family, faculty and students of MCHS, members of the military, and others gathered for a surprise ceremony, recalling his heroism during WWII. 

On May 28, 1944, at just 20 years old, Ryan was a navigator of a B-17 four-engine bomber flying over Europe when his plane was damaged by enemy fire. He was forced to parachute out of the plane before it crashed, only to be captured by Nazi forces and taken as a prisoner of war, where he suffered for almost a year. As Ryan put it, “That was first time, and the last time, I jumped out of an airplane.” 

While he was imprisoned, Ryan found himself at the point of starvation. It was in a moment of desperation that he traded his Marquette class ring to a Russian prisoner of war — for one can of sardines.

Marquette principal Tim Harmon said the Marquette dean of students first heard this incredible story from a young journalist who called the school earlier this year, hoping that Ryan would be honored at Marquette. MCHS staff members Robert Stephan, Paula Mattix-Wand, and Blake Marth worked with Jostens who created and donated a new Class of 1941 ring. They also got in touch with Ryan’s family and organized the ceremony.

At the April 23 gathering, MCHS Principal Tim Harmon and U.S. Army Lt. General Jared P. Helwig, Deputy Commander of USTRANSCOM (a unified command of the United States Department of Defense) from Scott Air Force Base spoke and presented Ryan with the new class ring, thanking him for his heroic service. Other people spoke as well. Marquette senior Nola Effinger sang the National Anthem, while Father Marty Smith, who is a diocesan priest and a veteran, led the prayer. At the end of the ceremony, the Joint Service Color Guard of USTRANSCOM presented the colors and handed Ryan a folded flag that had recently flown over Marquette. 

“I’m still in absolute shock and disbelief at how this has all come together,” said Harmon. “To think that one phone call back in January could lead to such a powerful and meaningful event.  It almost feels surreal. I find it to be an incredible honor and a true blessing that we have such brave, humble, and upstanding people in this world, and Mr. Robert Ryan is certainly one of them.

“As a history teacher by trade, this moment resonates with me on an especially deep level,” Harmon said. “I’ve spent years teaching students about the sacrifices and stories of World War II, often relying on textbooks, documentaries, and distant memories. But now, here we are, face to face with living history. A hero from our very own school, someone who lived through and served in one of the most pivotal times in modern history, is being honored in a way that is both long overdue and profoundly touching.

“It’s moments like these that remind us why we study history in the first place — not just to learn dates and names, but to honor the lives behind those stories, to preserve the legacy of courage and sacrifice, and to inspire future generations to carry those values forward,” Harmon said. “I am most certain that this is a day I will never forget.” 

Ryan, who is a member of St. Mary (Immaculate Conception) Parish in Alton, is still a practicing attorney. He has a model of the B-17 plane he flew, along with a piece of the Berlin Wall on his desk.  

For his part, Ryan was not expecting any recognition and added, “All any of us did is what we had to do, and we were lucky to survive.” He said he was happy to receive the ring and also the flag.  “This flag is important because when the prison camp was liberated, one of the more emotional events was rolling down the swastika flag and raising the American flag.  It’s very important.” 

Some information for this article was obtained from Riverbender News.