A gracious tribute was paid to a very honorable young man at Lowry High School's graduation ceremony this year when graduating senior Kirk Berensten delivered a remarkable speech to his class that had been written and read by a previous Lowry student at the graduation ceremony of 2009. This individual is Ryan Mathes and he was a decorated honor student, who also served as a role model to Berensten for obvious reasons.
"Ryan Mathes is a highly intelligent young man, a great friend, and an inspiration for me," said Berensten.
Summarily, the speech was an outline of the importance of having courage when taking the first steps into the real world, and was a direct reflection of the values of the person who wrote it. Mathes went on to prove the sincerity of his words as a member of his country's military,
"I had known for as long as I could remember that I would join the army," said Mathes.
Mathes has been stationed at Hunter Army Airfield in Savannah, Georgia since 2009 and in the following years been deployed to Afghanistan five times.
"I've previously been a Reconnaissance Operator, I've been a Team Leader and before that I was a Grenadier," said Mathes.
In the years since, Mathes has gained much experience and currently serves as a Sniper for his squad.
"I provide the ability for a force to reach out very far distances and provide precision fires on the enemy with a long-range rifle," said Mathes.
Not only has Mathes developed skills with explosives, equipment, and other military practices but he has also developed valuable characteristics and virtues.
"Working with the military has definitely changed me in a positive way, I am a lot less compromising than I once was and as a result I don't accept the failure of anybody, including myself, very well," said Mathes.
Mathes plans on utilizing these skills and virtues to further his experience in the military.
"I plan on making a career for myself in the army. Right now I'm actually trying to leave The First Ranger Battalion and become a member of Special Forces Operations as a Medic. People think that being a Sniper is glamorous and it is- I handle a grenade launcher and all other explosives for my squad, but there are bigger things in the outside world. I'm growing up and trying to build a portfolio. I would like to go into medical training so that way I have a marketable skill." said Mathes.
Mathes' plans for his future will not only add to his repertoire of skills, but will also help him be better prepared should the U.S. go to war.
"In the Special Forces I will be able to learn a language, preferably Russian because that's our main enemy right now. They are of national interest. If we do find ourselves going to war with Russia I will be ready," said Mathes.
Jessie Schirrick is a summer intern for the Humboldt Sun.[[In-content Ad]]
