Alumni spotlight: Ryan Ball, class of 2002

By Bailee Farrens, Contributing Writer

Ryan Ball, a 2002 Centralia High School (CHS) graduate, exasperates qualities of dedication, honor and service. ​

Ball enlisted in the United States Army in 2001, and completed basic training in the summer of 2002. 

While in basic training, Ball was selected as a candidate to be The Old Guard, otherwise known as the Honor Guard. Ball met all the requirements which allowed him to volunteer at the Tomb after six months. After his term of volunteering, he then did an additional six months of training to earn his Tomb Guard Identification Badge #522 in February of 2004. “It’s the least awarded badge in the military since 1958 and currently at about 730 badges (avg about 10 per year),” said Ball. 

Ball recalls what training was like for him saying, “The Tomb training is still the most difficult training and six month period I’ve experienced in my 22 year career – and that’s with two deployments under my belt since then.”

Ball’s schedule was pretty rigorous. “The Tomb platoon had three reliefs, and we worked a modified fireman schedule.  Day on, off, on, off, on, then four days off, then start the cycle over.  We would report to the Tomb quarters between 5:00 a.m. and 5:30 a.m. and have about 90 minutes of transition time with the relief that was currently on duty and our relief would take over guard duties at 7:00 a.m. and be relieved the next morning at 7:00 a.m.,” stated Ball.

While this job was not only rigorous, it was an all consuming job. “After the cemetery closed, we would all go outside onto the plaza to train for 2-3 hours after we ate dinner.  Then we would shine our shoes, press our uniforms and prepare for our next workday,” explained Ball.

Leaving the Army briefly in 2006, Ball went to college back at Mizzou until 2010, where upon completion he became Battalion Executive Officer (XO). Ball manages the budget, the soldiers' pay or issues in administration, as well as training and deployment. 

 “Our battalion has seven companies consisting of over 700 Soldiers.  I oversee the $200 million dollar budget, all soldier pay and administrative issues, legal issues and action, medical and dental readiness, training and deployability, etc.  I’m kind of a jack of all trades, and handle just about everything with a lot of support from my staff,” said Ball.

“My service at the Tomb is why I still serve.  I only planned to serve a four year Army contract and then return to Centralia to be a teacher and coach.  I loved it and the Armyso much that I decided to make it my career,” said Ball.  Ball’s remarkable story as a member of the prestigious 3rd Infantry Regiment, "The Old Guard," in 2004 highlights not only his personal sacrifice, but the sense of duty engraved in his heart. ​