53-year-old Marine proud to get recalled

Bakersfield Californian ^ | 12/21/04 | Carolyn Kaster - AP

[NormsRevenge]

LEBANON, Pa. (AP) - This is what Frank Ryan is bringing with him to Iraq: Fourteen pairs of socks, 10 pairs of underwear, eight uniforms, and an alarm clock with his son Matthew's picture in it. Four razors, the lubricated kind for dry shaving, a knife, one sweater, two hats, long thermal underwear for sleeping and more family photos on a CD.

And that's not to mention the venison jerky for instant protein from Jan and Chuck Soulliard, friends from the post office.

Ryan is a 53-year-old retired Marine colonel with 32 years of active and reserve duty under his belt.

An accountant from Lebanon, he got a phone call from the Marine Corps' manpower office in August. Officials wanted to see if he would come out of retirement to serve in Iraq.

Could he pass the physical? Was he interested?

Yes, he said, he would be ready to go. "Being able to be part of this is very important to me," he explained.

On Nov. 3, his orders came in the mail, marked "Involuntary Presidential Select Recall." This was no longer a courtesy call. He would deploy on Dec. 5 to serve as deputy chief of the multinational force in Iraq. Ryan's assignment: to be responsible to the chief of staff and commanding general to coordinate the planning and operations of ground forces.

For Frank Ryan, 2004 is ending in ways he could hardly have imagined when the hectic year began.

In preparation for deployment, Ryan started jogging four times a week to lose the 20 pounds he had gained while running for the 17th congressional district seat in central Pennsylvania. He lost the Republican nomination to Scott Paterno.

He had to close his accounting business temporarily and refer his current clients. He had to finish landscaping the front yard. He had to prepare his four grown children and his wife, Sherrie. He was going into harm's way.

One of the hardest parts of the deployment for Ryan was stopping the adoption of a baby girl from China.

When he retired two years ago, he and Sherrie thought it would be wonderful to have another child, and so they started the adoption process. Just before Ryan got his orders they were told they would be paired up with a child and travel to China to get her as early as January. They chose the name Julia Rose.

The deployment made the adoption impossible, since the Chinese adoption agency required them to pick up the baby together. The adoption will have to wait. It's for the best, Ryan said.

"This is not going to happen, but if I became a casualty, what would it mean for the baby?" he said.

He had already set up an education fund for Julia Rose.

In the period before deployment, Ryan prepared himself mentally for combat.

"I tell this to any of my young Marines: You are going into a different world and have to be prepared for just about anything," he said. "They can't afford to take anything for granted."

For Ryan, that means breaking up normal everyday patterns, such as getting up and having a cup of coffee. "Don't have a pattern to your daily life," he said. "Patterns will get you killed."

Another aspect of mental preparation is what he calls "personnel accountability."

"It is real easy to wake up in the morning and say, four kids, my wife, three dogs, I'm covered," he said. "Now I need to know where everybody is every second of the day, and: Are they OK? And so you mentally have to be prepared. You can't take your eye off of one person once. Real leadership is defined by your ability to care for others."

Ryan joined the Marines as soon as he turned 18, at the height of the Vietnam War.

His son, Matthew Ryan, 22, enlisted with the Pennsylvania National Guard right out of high school. He will be commissioned in May when he graduates from Penn State. He has chosen the infantry and expects to be sent to Iraq.

On Sunday, Dec. 5, Frank Ryan had a cup of coffee out of his favorite mug. He put on his new uniform and loaded his bags in the family Volvo station wagon. He gave the dogs a goodbye cookie.

Then he and Sherrie and three fiends headed for Harrisburg International Airport. First, he'd fly to Camp Lejeune, N.C., then later to Iraq.

As Ryan checked in at the airport counter using his one-way ticket, he struck up a conversation with another traveler, John Hatton, a retired New York police officer and former Marine. When they parted, Ryan gave a quick salute and smile, and Hatton said, "I will say a rosary for you, Colonel."

[Cobra64]

I agree. There are a lot of us mid-50 year old guys who'd like to serve their country. Not being a veteran; I'm not allowed to. Even though I have run projects for multi-billion dollar companies like Seagrams, IBM, Glaxo Smith-Kline, Wyeth-Ayerst, American Home Products, and Johnson & Johnson. Ohh well, 35 years experience in the private sector is ignored in the military sector.

[Gunrunner2]

Agree 100%.

Stateside adoption takes years and years and cost big bucks. . .even if adopted through Catholic Charities.

Foreign adoptions do not take as long, liberate a child from a live of sure misery, and costs about the same.

In the military we tried to adopt for many years and through many moves. Were not able because as soon as we were at a location for a couple of years and working our way up the waiting list. . .another move and we got put to the bottom of the stack at the next location and find ourselves going through the same background checks and investigations.

In Abilene, TX, Catholic Charities in way-early 80's, had no luck at all with adoption because the do-goody social workers said straight-out that the life of a military family was too disruptive and unsuitable for adoption. This yahoo (and his feminazi coworker) told us that they were the final arbiter and no appeal was allowed. Thank God and bless Dave Thomas of Wendy's fame for his efforts to ease these heartless restrictions on military families

[Cobra64]

Only if you are a veteran. The rest of us tough old bastards (I'm 54), professional business, operations, logistics, materials management, retired guy is not allowed to support our military.

[Zack Nguyen]

There are no kids left in the US to adopt?

Hey, ease up. Chinese orphans need loving homes too. They are just as deserving as American babies.

[don-o]

Where do we get such men?

Great get, Norm. Let's try to track this Marine.

[ArmyTeach]

Is there a picture of the colonel anywhere? I would love to have him as an addition to my 'wall of honor' in my office at my military education center. Maybe I'll just get the marine crest and superimpose his name.

[EmilyGeiger]

There are but in China there are so many baby girls. Sometimes parents will leave a baby girl in the street, because they wanted a boy and they are only allowed one child. The orphanages are over-running with girls. It is easier to adopt from China for older couples than in America.

[NormsRevenge]

Here ya go. :-)

Colonel Frank Ryan, 53, says goodbye to his daughter Katie Ryan over his cell phone as he waits for his flight as Harrisburg International Airport, Sunday, Dec. 5, 2004 in Harrisburg, Pa. Ryan is leaving for Camp Lejeune, N.C., to report for duty. Ryan, a retired Marine Colonel with 32 years of active and reserve duty under his belt, has been called out of retirement to serve in Iraq (news - web sites). (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Colonel Frank Ryan, 53, center left, and his wife Sherrie Ryan, center right, exchange Christmas gifts with Frank's children, Matthew, right and Katie in their Lebanon, Pa., home on Thanksgiving day, Thursday, Nov. 25, 2004. Thanksgiving was a chance for Ryan's family to say goodbye and exchange gifts before Frank deploys. Frank Ryan, a retired Marine Colonel with 32 years of active and reserve duty under his belt, has been called out of retirement to serve in Iraq (news - web sites). (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Colonel Frank Ryan, 53, hugs his wife Sherrie Ryan as he leaves to catch his flight at Harrisburg International Airport, Sunday, Dec. 5, 2004 in Harrisburg, Pa. Crying to the left is family friend Christine Verdier. Ryan is leaving for Camp Lejeune, N.C., to report for duty. Ryan, a retired Marine Colonel with 32 years of active and reserve duty under his belt, has been called out of retirement to serve in Iraq (news - web sites). (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

[Time is now]

We'll see. I'm 50, can run 20, bench 220 and have managed a logistics consulting firm for 8 years. I've applied for three positions in the Army civilian branch, logistics management, duty station Iraq. Let's see if the age thing posted here holds true...

[strongbow]

This cuts close to home. I am the same age, retired 2 years ago and was an O-6. They don't really need my skills but if they did I think I would follow the good Colonel's example.

[ArmyTeach]

Whoa! This is great! Thanks!

[Badray]

Here is his web address and there are some pictures there. I don't know how to post a picture, but you may want to choose it yourself anyway.

http://frankryanforcongress.com/

[Badray]

"What a guy... and perhaps we've found the candidate to run against Fast Eddie Rendell in 2006?"

He is a good man. He ran in the primary in a field of about 5 good men (damn shame that they were all in the same district) but lost out on the nomination to Scott Paterno -- son of Penn State University football coach Joe Paterno.

[Badray]

"Let's try to track this Marine."

I am on his email list and get occassional updates from him. With his permission, I'll pass anything that I get on to you.

[don-o]

I am on his email list and get occassional updates from him. With his permission, I'll pass anything that I get on to you.

Better to post to the board.

I slack from time to time; if you post to FR - things WILL get done.

[fuquadukie]

It's stories like this that make me realize what a 'slacker' I am at age 50 (in 2 weeks)... brings a tear to the eyes... not ashamed to admit so. I didn't serve and, in fact, probably couldn't have because of a medical reason (no vision in one eye; eventually lost it at age 28. Don't worry, I can talk about it.).

Father was Army Korea veteran, with ~30 years National Guard; One uncle was a career Marine (DI), served more than 1 tour in Vietnam; Other uncle was career Army (also DI), also went to Vietnam.

I have great respect for those who do serve... GREAT respect.

May God be with this Marine and each and every soldier, whether in Iraq or elsewhere on this plant.

[AngryJawa]

Their are plenty of kids in the U,S. but the adoption agency make it so hard to adopt and It cost a small fortune also

Amen, brother. I'm not usually one for advocating government interference in anything, but US adoption practices need some serious tinkering.

Back on topic: Thank God for men like these. I really do wish that the military would at least consider us "over the hill" types (I'm 36) with no prior service for support roles or whatever. I'd do it.

[Zack Nguyen]

THe Chinese baby who is being saved from an orphanage and probably Communist indoctrination is not an "immigrant." He/she is citizen and won't be a burden to anybody, taxpayer or otherwise.

[Badray]

Okay. Will do.

[-=Wing_0_Walker=-]

You are right. What do you have against AMERICAN babies for adoption? As I said, usually there are brothers and sister up for adoption.