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 ...
Consider it done.
My computer is glitching up with the photos... I have five more to post. Meanwhile searching for more info.
Please ping me when you post about Sgt Ryan.
Could you please also ping me with any updates? I'm so impressed with this young man's fight and with the love of his family! I'm sending out a card of thanks and a military coin.
Merry Christmas!
I think you have me on the ping list for this Marine's story; if not could you add me? If a visit is planned by FReepers in the area, I'd love to participate if possible. My parents live a stone's throw from Ellenville and my dad might be interested as well. I'm keeping my dad updated on Sgt. Ryan, as he is not a FReeper.
Thanks for all you're doing. Keeping Eddie and his family in my prayers.
Thanks for the ping..
Heart-wrenching story...This man DESERVES our support!
Thank you for posting about this AWESOME AMERICAN and his family!
If I were you..I would keep my peace...and wait for the outcome.
Photo Album is here: http://www.recordonline.com/photo/ryan/pages/eteedd10.htm and the author of the article is pbrooks@th-record.com
God Bless Eddie and his family!
Thanks U.
Well said, Much politer than I could have mustered.
Thanks for the article, Ali. I mailed him a card yesterday afternoon. I plan on getting a bunch and sending 1 a week. My grand daughters are going to be making pictures for him, too. Do you have a ping list for this hero? If so, would you put me on it?
My wife and I wrote Sgt. Eddie Ryan today and also sent him a copy of our family Christmas letter.
I have posted his story to my Catholic discussion list and have encouraged the members to write him and to spread the word about this brave young Marine to their friends and family.
Sursum Corda
Sure thing. Hopefully many more great stories and pictures of this hero. Thanks for letting us know. May God bless him and his family.
I sent a card today also. Hope Eddie gets thousands of cards like Joshua Spalding.
You are truly an angel for posting this article...and I to be added to the "Eddie Ryan ping list..
Not only is Eddie remarkable..but his family is also..such dedication..if we can help THEM in any way...I would sure like to find out.
Sometimes the caregivers go through a "silent" crisis of their own..(they might not even be aware of it)..but just the stress can be harmful...so I hope that we can give them our support also...
God Bless Eddie and his family...thank you Ali...I think you have gotten Eddie "adopted" by the Freepers...
I was just on the thread that Jim Robinson started to wish us all a Merry Christmas...and I was thinking how nice it would be for Eddie to know in "real time" how much we all care...and what we would like to say to him...
I wonder if we could get him on FR...and so his Mom, sister, father, could monitor the thread, and then, hopefully, he will be able to read it for himself..
Of course, we all still need to send cards and drawings, but, when I am "down" it can be such an instant "pick-me-up"...when I get on a thread with Freeper friends..
What do you think?
I think that would be a great idea. We'd need to find out if he has a laptop. If not, I'm sure we could all pitch in and get him one.
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