Posted on 12/24/2005 7:11:51 AM PST by AliVeritas
The first bullet struck Cpl. Eddie Ryan above the right eyebrow and bored through the frontal lobes, the seat of personality and memory in his brain. Traveling at about a half-mile a second, the bullet generated a shock wave that widened as it went. The pressure crushed brain cells into jelly. The hunk of metal slammed into the left side of his skull and shattered. A second bullet came from the opposite direction. It sliced through the back of his lower left jaw and burst out his chin. Ryan collapsed on the Iraqi rooftop in Ramadi where he and two fellow snipers crouched. The Ellenville native was bleeding, unconscious, and bullets rained down around him. It was 7 a.m. April 13. Eddie Ryan was as good as dead. He was 21.
(Excerpt) Read more at recordonline.com ...
Let's not just encourage him but help him out the best that we can.
Times Herald-Record/TARA ENGBERGEddie Ryan sits in his hospital room with his mother Angela. Eddie a Marine from Ellenville was injured in Iraq and is recovering at Helen Hayes Hospital in Rockland County. This was posted October, 10, 2005
Copyright © Times Herald-Record
"If it had been me, I would have preferred that .........."
Ping this soldier to the prayer group.
I may make a trip to Haverstraw. I'll call his family first and get the info to post for NY Freepers.
I will be there in spirit.
It's good that some many are willing to make the extra effort to show their appreciation for this strong patriot.
Amen to that.
I will send the Sgt. a letter. He reminds me of my son.
BTTT
In celebration of the recent 230th anniversary of the U.S. Marines Corps, members of the active military stationed at Stewart in Newburgh and Marine Detachment groups visited Marine Sgt. Eddie Ryan at the Helen Hayes Rehabilitation Center in Haverstraw. In ceremonious fashion, when the cake was cut with a saber he was presented the first piece.
Snip from Veterans keep memory of a day in infamy
http://www.recordonline.com/archive/2005/12/04/news-04_dec_bbedell_sunday-12-04.html
We pray for this valiant American. There are few like him. We beseech Thee to restore him to full health and bless his loving and brave family.
He pauses, as his brain searches for words. In a low voice, barely audible, he says, "Good to go. Staying motivated."
"He's in there," his dad says.
######
A severely injured brain resumes functions at its most basic levels first. Eddie Ryan is alive because in his essence he is Staying Motivated! What an inspiration to others. Prayers for him and his family.
I hope his family will be getting some of the kinds of support that Jessica Lynch's family had - as a result of her story becoming a national topic.
Part 2 of this story is the phenomenal medical and emotional care that our wounded receive. Where in the lamestream media is this story getting the publicity that it should?
Snipers on roofs of Ramadi should be the heroes that every little kid dreams about, like other heroes of previous generations.
May God continue to bless Eddie and his family, they will be in our prayers.
Times Herald-Record/TARA ENGBERG Eddie Ryan undergoes Physical therapy to strengthen his legs. Eddie a Marine from Ellenville was injured in Iraq and is recovering at Helen Hayes Hospital in Rockland County.
Times Herald-Record/TARA ENGBERG After a sesion of Physical Therapy Eddie Ryan is surrounded by his sister Felicia, and mother Angela. Eddie a Marine from Ellenville was injured in Iraq and is recovering at Helen Hayes Hospital in Rockland County.
Times Herald-Record/TARA ENGBERG Eddie Ryan looks up as his sister Felicia hugs Chief Warrant Officer Terry Smolter. Eddie a Marine from Ellenville was injured in Iraq and is recovering at Helen Hayes Hospital in Rockland County.
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Times Herald-Record/TARA ENGBERG Eddie Ryan gets a kiss from his mother Angela. Eddie a Marine from Ellenville was injured in Iraq and is recovering at Helen Hayes Hospital in Rockland County.
Times Herald-Record/TARA ENGBERG Notes decorate the wall in Eddie Ryan's room. Eddie a Marine from Ellenville was injured in Iraq and is recovering at Helen Hayes Hospital in Rockland County.
More to come
Community praying for injured Marine, family By Paul Brooks Times Herald-Record pbrooks@th-record.com Ellenville – Angela and Chris Ryan are at the side of their critically wounded son, Marine Cpl. Ed Ryan, in a military hospital in Germany.
"They are where they should be," said Ryan's uncle, Tony Puccio of Ulster Heights. "But what can they do but pray and hope he will recover?"
Ryan was hit with a bullet in his brain sometime Tuesday night in Iraq.
Ryan was serving his second tour of duty with the Marines, Puccio said.
Details of the incident have yet to surface. Ryan was a sniper during his first tour in the war-torn Middle East country. It was unclear if he was serving that role when he was injured, Puccio said.
Ryan, 21, remained in critical but stable condition yesterday in a military hospital in Weisbaden, Germany, his uncle said.
Ryan's parents and his sister, Felicia, learned of his injuries Wednesday night. But problems with paperwork related to his mother delayed their takeoff from New York City until late Thursday afternoon, Puccio said. Ryan's mother, Angela, is a resident alien, and it took hours to clear up her paperwork, Puccio said. Angela is his sister. Felicia is also in Germany.
Ellenville residents have rallied around the wounded native son, who graduated from Ellenville High School in 2002. The high school, where Angela Ryan works as a cafeteria monitor, was flooded with calls of concern, officials said.
Members of the Assembly of God Church on Canal Street have been praying for Ed Ryan and his family, said the Rev. Bill Cates, pastor of the church. The church held a joint prayer service with the Wawarsing Community Church Wednesday night.
The Ryan family have been members of the local church for 18 years. Chris Ryan teaches children's church, Angela is involved with the worship ministry, and Felicia teaches Sunday school, Cates said. Ed Ryan attended church as well.
"They always sat together as a family," Cates said.
The pastor said he spoke with Chris Ryan yesterday morning. "At times like this, they want to know that as many people as possible are praying for them," Cates said. "I have all kinds of hope, but the situation is truly in God's hands."
I clicked on the link to Record Online and read the article and looked at the entire photo album of Sgt Eddie Ryan's day at Helen Hayes Hospital. When I closed the link to the album, to go back to the article to send the author a note, I could not access the newspaper's website without subscribing. I wonder if anyone will be able to put some of the photos here on this thread. They are remarkable. The love in his family is so apparent - and also the care and respect of his rehab teams.
Thanks for posting this thread.
Could you stay as "point- man" for Eddie on FR? And ping me when you post anything at all.
As for me, I'm off to the post office to mail my support and encouragement.
Just a bump to say thanks for posting the photos. You were doing it while I was wishing that it would happen!!! ;*)
Merry Christmas!
Helen Hayes Hospital
Route 9W
West Haverstraw, NY 10993
ATTN: Sgt. Eddie Ryan
Unit 4A, Room 412
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