Recruiter honored after losing battle with cancer

By Fonda Bock, USARECApril 30, 2014

Recruiter honored after losing battle with cancer
1 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Recruiter honored after losing battle with cancer
2 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

GREAT LAKES, Mich., (April 30, 2014) -- After a long battle with cancer, Great Lakes Battalion recruiter Sgt. 1st Class Raymond Ditmyer passed away on his 43rd birthday April 17. His funeral was April 22; the battalion held a memorial service April 23.

Ditmyer enlisted in the Army Nov. 2, 1990 as a 12B, Combat Engineer. After assignments at Fort Hood, Texas and with the 10th Engineer Battalion in Germany, he joined U.S. Army Recruiting Command in 2002.

His USAREC assignments included center commander for the Fremont, Mich., Center, center commander and master trainer in Denver Battalion, and most recently as a master trainer for Great Lakes Battalion.

Ditmyer's awards include the Meritorious Service Medal (posthumous), Army Commendation Medal (2 Oak Leaf Clusters), Army Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal (1 Silver Loop), National Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Armed Forces Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, NCO Professional Development Ribbon (Numeral 3), Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, NATO Medal, Recruiter Badge (3 Sapphires), the recruiter ring and Driver's Badge.

Lieutenant Col. John Blankenhorn, Great Lakes Battalion Commander expressed sorrow upon learning of Ditmyer's passing.

"Sgt. 1st Class Raymond Ditmyer passed away after a long and courageous battle with cancer, which he fought for the last several years," said Blankenhorn. "Sgt. 1st Class Ditmyer was a tremendous Soldier who truly displayed the Warrior Ethos and had a great impact on many of us. His life was one of dedicated service and we are honored that he served so well among our ranks for over 22 years."

Ditmyer is survived by his wife Kathy and two children, Gill and Ronan.

Related Links:

USAREC Facebook page

Recruiter Journal web magazine