I was emailing Ryan's mother about some engagement rings that I liked when the doorbell rang, Whitney recalled. It was his parents, their faces told me something was wrong. He's been shot but he's ok, they said.
From the beginning of Ryan's deployment, the two young lovers had talked about engagement and a future together. Had things turned out like they wanted, they would have been married sometime in 2010, but life had other plans.
Ryan joined the Army in 2005 and was being sent on his first deployment two years later. His unit wasn't really sure where they were going but their training had prepared them and they were eager. After waiting in Kuwait for orders on where they were headed, rumors started circulating amongst the soldiers that their commander soon confirmed...it was time to go into Iraq.
About a week later they finally arrived at their Combat Outpost. Ryan spent his time pulling security details and helping to fortify their new-found home. One day they were given an intelligence briefing of a possible attack. The briefing didn't stop the typical duties and Ryan found himself up at 6 a.m. cleaning up around the outpost.
It all started later that day when a unit out on foot patrol was ambushed with small arms fire. Ryan was on guard in a tower and could hear the calls coming in, he anxiously waited for his comrades to return. Shortly after the foot patrol made it back Ryan was to be relieved, but they couldn't find his replacement.
Just then a loud noise and a cloud of smoke near the corner of a distant building...it was an RPG. They called it in and tried to identify the location. Activity on the streets had been unusual that day and they were scanning everywhere and everyone. Shortly after the suspected attack, another tower opens fire. It wasn't a short burst, they were continuing to engage the enemy, Ryan said, adding that at that point his tower wasn't able identify the target without exposing themselves to enemy fire.
Ryan was joined in the tower by another soldier with the ability to return fire in the direction that the other tower was firing in. Just shoot, Ryan told his partner who was reluctant to fire. They argued over what to do when Ryan finally decides to stand up and identify a target so his companion would engage. He points out the location and his partner begins to fire.
Ryan was knocked to the ground immediately. Thinking he had been knocked down by his buddy, Ryan tries to roll over and stand up. That's when he realized he couldn't move his right leg-he had been shot. I felt it when it hit me, once my leg wouldn't move it registered that I had been shot, Ryan explained. Immediately I thought, I'm shot, I'm shot - my mom is going to be upset. Just then his sergeant makes his way into the tower and asks if Ryan had been hit, Roger sergeant, I'm sorry he replied.
In less than a week, Ryan was in back in America being treated for the wound to his abdomen and recovering from the exploratory surgery performed after the incident. Shortly after, he was reunited with his family and with Whitney.
After I got shot, I knew if she was going to be there for me that, Whitney would be there for anything, he said, remembering his decision to propose sooner than later. Ryan proposed in November of 2007 and the couple is scheduled to be married Jan. 3, 2009.
Ryan's brush with death gave him a new perspective on life. Don't wait, he said, if you want something go and get it.
Love's story is never the same, it changes with each new couple I meet. Thank you to Ryan and Whitney for taking the time to share your story with me.
