Ray Boland

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

Biography

Boland was born on November 21, 1937, in

Troy State University and Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania

.

Boland and his wife, Donna, reside in Sparta, Wisconsin.^[2] They have six children and eleven grandchildren.

Military career

Boland joined the

Fort Leonard Wood and Fort Sill

. In 1959, Boland was commissioned an officer.

During the

Hanau, Germany

.

In 1966, Boland was deployed to serve in the

Special Forces operations. The following year, he returned to Fort Rucker to train future combat pilots. In 1969, Boland returned to Vietnam, assigned to the 101st Airborne Division. He assumed command of a Bell AH-1 Cobra

unit. Afterwards, he again returned to Fort Rucker as an instructor.

After serving with the

Fort Hood, Boland attended the United States Army Command and General Staff College, graduating in 1975. In 1978, he became an aviation battalion commander with the 25th Infantry Division. He remained in that position until 1980, when he began attending the United States Army War College, graduating the following year. Afterwards, he was named Deputy Chief of Staff for Training of United States Army North. In 1985, Boland was assigned to the 3rd Infantry Division at Giebelstadt Army Airfield

.

In 1988, Boland became garrison commander of

Fort McCoy. During this time, he supported mobilization of units for deployment during the Gulf War. Boland retired in 1991 with the rank of colonel

.

Awards he received during his career include the

Gallantry Cross

.