Boardman Native Hodyniak Reaches Major Milestone in 20-Year Army Career

A local soldier with deep roots in the Columbia River community has achieved a significant promotion. Major Joseph Hodyniak, a Boardman High School graduate, was recently promoted to the rank of major in the United States Army, coinciding with his 20th year of military service.

The promotion ceremony, held at Fort Cavazos in Texas, was a proud moment for Hodyniak’s family, including several relatives who made the trip from Morrow County. His journey began two decades ago when he enlisted shortly after graduation, seeking discipline and a path to higher education.

“The values I learned growing up here—hard work, integrity, looking out for your neighbor—those are the same values that have guided my career,” Major Hodyniak stated in a call with the Boardman Herald. He credited his early years working on local farms with instilling the resilience needed for military life.

Hodyniak’s career has included multiple overseas deployments and specialized training in logistics and supply chain management, skills he humorously noted were first honed “organizing tool sheds and coordinating harvest crews back home.”

Community leaders in Boardman point to Hodyniak’s career as an inspiration for local youth considering service. “Joe’s story shows that from our small town, you can go anywhere and achieve great things through dedication,” said Morrow County Commissioner, Jim Doherty. “We’re all incredibly proud of his service and this well-earned promotion.”

Major Hodyniak is currently assigned to a sustainment brigade at Fort Cavazos. He and his family plan to visit Boardman later this year to celebrate his achievement with the community that first supported his ambitions.