Ray Boland

Ray Boland(born November 21, 1937) is a former military officer and politician inWisconsin.

Biography

Boland was born on November 21, 1937, inChicago, Illinois.After graduating fromHarper High School,Boland moved with his family toFriendship, Wisconsinin 1955. He is a graduate ofTroy State UniversityandShippensburg University of Pennsylvania.

Boland and his wife, Donna, reside inSparta, Wisconsin.They have six children and eleven grandchildren.

Military career

Boland joined theWisconsin Army National Guardin 1956. He then began training atFort Leonard WoodandFort Sill.In 1959, Boland was commissioned an officer.

During theBerlin Crisis of 1961,Boland was assigned to the32nd Infantry Divisionand stationed atFort Lewis.In 1963, he was sent toFort Rucker,where he began aviation training. After completing his training the following year, he was stationed inHanau, Germany.

In 1966, Boland was deployed to serve in theVietnam War.He flew thede Havilland Canada DHC-3 Otterin support ofSpecial Forcesoperations. The following year, he returned to Fort Rucker to train future combat pilots. In 1969, Boland returned to Vietnam, assigned to the101st Airborne Division.He assumed command of aBell AH-1 Cobraunit. Afterwards, he again returned to Fort Rucker as an instructor.

After serving with the1st Cavalry DivisionatFort Hood,Boland attended theUnited States Army Command and General Staff College,graduating in 1975. In 1978, he became an aviation battalion commander with the25th Infantry Division.He remained in that position until 1980, when he began attending theUnited States Army War College,graduating the following year. Afterwards, he was named Deputy Chief of Staff for Training ofUnited States Army North.In 1985, Boland was assigned to the3rd Infantry DivisionatGiebelstadt Army Airfield.

In 1988, Boland became garrison commander ofFort McCoy.During this time, he supported mobilization of units for deployment during theGulf War.Boland retired in 1991 with the rank ofcolonel.

Awards he received during his career include theLegion of Merit,theDistinguished Flying Cross,Bronze Star Medal,thePurple Heart,theMeritorious Service Medal,theAir Medal,theArmy Commendation Medal,Master Army Aviator Badge,thePresidential Unit Citationand the VietnameseGallantry Cross.

Political career

Boland served as secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs from 1992 to 2003. In 2012, Boland was a candidate for theUnited States House of RepresentativesfromWisconsin's 3rd congressional district,losing to incumbentRon Kind.Additionally, he has served as vice president of theNational Coalition for Homeless Veterans.

Boland is aRepublican.