Sergeant Alan Ruehs

Sergeant Alan Ruehs of Forney served in the United States Army from 1996 to 2014. After having grown up on his family’s farm in Michigan, he lacked a clear direction for his life when the farm went out of business. Eventually Ruehs found himself talking with an Army recruiter and ultimately enlisting in the Army for what he describes as a great career. The many benefits of the Army – college payment, medical insurance, etc. – were a few of the reasons Ruehs stuck with the military. But none were as impactful as the relationships he built with fellow servicemen and women.

During his time in the service, Sergeant Ruehs was deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq and subsequently received numerous awards for his acts of bravery, one of which was a Bronze Star. Additionally, in 2012 Ruehs was invited to visit the White House, where he was honored by President and Mrs. Obama for his heroic acts. At that memorable Independence Day visit, President Obama said, “We salute our soldiers, like Sergeant Alan Ruehs, who, in the midst of an enemy ambush in Afghanistan, risked his own life to save the lives of four others.”

Despite the extensive list of accolades and honors Ruehs has received, he humbly submits that, “The Army is like anything else: You get out of it what you put into it.” And through the hard work and dedication Sergeant Ruehs put into his Army career, he has gained many things, including the valuable character quality of perseverance. “It turned me into a focused, goal-oriented person,” he says. “The military also taught me to deal with adversity very well.”

Currently a diesel fleet maintenance manager, Ruehs has called Forney home, along with his wife Eva, for the last two and a half years. Though it’s not quite the farm life Ruehs grew up with, he enjoys his life here with Eva and their ten chickens, five dogs, and one cat. “I love the military,” he comments. “And I love the support that the Forney community has for those who served.”

His hope now is that young men and women would take the time to learn the history of our country and military. He says that the best way to gain that knowledge of what military life is like or why they choose to put their own lives at risk for the sake of others is not through Google or YouTube, but rather by striking up a conversation with a veteran. “And don’t treat veterans like they’re damaged,” he adds, reminding us that, though they’ve often experienced many horrific things that the average civilian will not ever see, veterans are still just regular folks who would love to visit with you about their own experiences.

A man who spent 18 years of his life immersed in the service of his country, Sergeant Ruehs says his dedication and patriotism will not ever change. Though the U.S. is experiencing some very difficult days, he still proudly flies his American flag outside his home, remains loyal to his country, and asserts that he is just a “country boy” at heart – a country boy who willingly gave nearly two decades of his life for the protection of others and the furtherance of freedom around the world.