Eddie Ryan

Eddie Ryan served in the United States Marine Corps and achieved the rank of Sergeant.

In June 2002, Mr. Ryan graduated high school and immediately enlisted for four years in the United States Marine Corps. The terrorist attacks of September 11 were a driving force behind his decision to enlist and serve his country.

In September of that year, he left for Iraq, operating a machine gun. He fought in Nasiriyah and Ramadi, 70 miles northwest of Baghdad. He then served a second tour duty in Djibouti, Africa, going on as a Marine Sniper in Iraq.

Sergeant Ryan was brave in combat and always motivating his fellow Marines in harm’s way.

On April 13, 2005, on his third tour of duty, Sergeant Ryan was on a rooftop mission in Husaybah, Iraq, near the Syrian border. His team was mistaken for the enemy by a United States tank. The tank opened fire, and two 7.62 caliber rounds from the tank’s machine gun struck Sergeant Ryan. Tragically, he was shot twice in his head, once in his lower jaw and once above his eye. He was severely wounded and suffered a traumatic brain injury.

With total disregard for their own lives, his fellow Marines, who were still under intense machine gun fire, rescued Sergeant Ryan. He was flown to Germany and listed in critical to grave condition. The doctors did not expect him to survive. However, his indomitable Marine spirit willed him to survive. People at the hospital began calling him the “Miracle Marine." At three and a half weeks, Sergeant Ryan miraculously was taken off the life support that the doctors said he would be on for the rest of his life. 

For his service to our Nation, Sergeant Ryan earned numerous medals and ribbons, including the Purple Heart, Fidelity Obedience Zeal Medal, National Defense Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, War on Terror Expeditionary Medal, War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Combat Action Ribbon, Presidential Unit Citation Ribbon, and the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon.

His faith in God, along with his great attitude during everyday struggles, are admirable to those around him. When thanked for his service, Sgt. Ryan replies – “I would do it all over again."