William Thomas “Bill” Ryder (April 16, 1913 – October 1, 1992) was the first American paratrooper. Ryder helped pioneer Army airborne training, equipment and tactics alongside men like Jim Gavin, William Yarborough, Bill Lee, Art Gorham and Bud Miley. He was an aide to General of the Army Douglas MacArthur from 1944 until 1951. In the early 1960s he was a top Army expert in guided missile systems retiring as a brigadier general in 1966.