By
PRO IUNVA
Coy Sgt James Ryan (47) was diagnosed with a terminal illness while on his fifth tour of peacekeeping duty as a senior NCO and he died in hospital from natural causes fifty six years ago in Oct 1966.
He was from Clanbrassil Terrace in Dublin and his parent unit was 5 Inf Bn.
He completed three tours of UN service in the Congo, he served with the first DF unit, 32 Inf Bn from Jul 1960 to Jan 1961, his second tour was with 1 Inf Gp from May to Nov 1961 and with 39 Inf Bn from Apr to Oct 1963.
He served with 3 Inf Gp in Cyprus from Jul 1964 to Jan 1965. He started his last tour with UNFICYP as Coy Sgt HQ Coy 6 Inf Gp on 1 Apr 1966. Three months later, on 1 Jul, he was repatriated on medical grounds. He died on 4 Oct 1966 at St Bricins Military Hospital in Dublin.
He was taken the short distance to the Church of the Sacred Heart at Arbour Hill on Thursday 5 Oct. Funeral Mass was celebrated on Friday 6 Oct and he was buried in Glasnevin Cemetery. He was survived by his sisters and one brother.
Ar dheis lámh Dé go raibh a anam dhílis.
