Tinley Park Soldier Retires After 23 Years of Service

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Photo Courtesy of Sgt. 1st Class William R. Ringhofer/ Sgt. 1st Class William R. Ringhofer of Tinley Park with the 33rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team stands in Laghman Province Afghanistan, 2009. Ringh

SPRINGFIELD, IL (04/09/2012)(readMedia)-- Story by Spc. Christopher A. Garibay, 33rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team

TINLEY PARK – Soldiers with the Illinois National Guard's Company C, 1st Battalion, 178th Infantry Regiment, 33rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team in Kankakee, said farewell to Sgt. 1st Class William R. Ringhofer of Tinley Park who retired after 23 years of service.

Ringhofer has completed numerous training deployments to countries such as Poland, Iceland, Southwest Asia, Germany and Panama. He served as a platoon sergeant, leading 41 Soldiers on a combat deployment to Afghanistan as part of Operation Enduring Freedom. Additionally, he retires having earned numerous medals, including a Distinguish Service Medal, four Army Achievement Medals, among other military awards and decorations.

"Going to Afghanistan was one of my most lasting memories of being in the National Guard," said Ringhofer. "It was the culminating point of all my years of training leading up to that deployment."

He said his platoon saw combat but all returned home safely – something which gives him pride.

"I've worked with Ringhofer for 10 years and he is an outstanding platoon sergeant, noncommissioned officer (NCO) and leader in the company," said 1st Sgt. Michael R. Kelly of Chicago, also with Company C. "He's mentored a lot of up-and-coming NCOs, getting them ready to fulfill his role in the future – a lot of people are going to miss him."

Kelly deployed with Ringhofer to Afghanistan where they provided security forces for the Provincial Reconstruction Team in the Laghman Province.

"We want to wish him luck and the very best for his future," said Kelly.

Ringhofer said the National Guard has played a big role in his life, allowing him to see different parts of the world, their cultures and their people and also paid for his college. It has allowed him to meet the woman who has become his wife while deployed in Germany, he said.

Ringhofer is a Tinley Park police officer and expects to put more "overtime" into his work after his retirement. He said he will also have the opportunity to spend more time with his wife and three children.