thedrifter
05-24-07, 06:28 AM
Hinchey enters skirmish over medals for Marines who saved local soldier's life
By Paul Brooks
Times Herald-Record
May 24, 2007
Ellenville — The Marine Corps has screwed up the investigation into medals for the Marines who saved Sgt. Eddie Ryan's life, Rep. Maurice Hinchey said.
And the congressman wants the problem fixed.
Hinchey, D-Hurley, has written to Gen. James T. Conway, commandant of the Marine Corps, demanding a new review of the matter and an immediate awarding of the medals.
The most recent investigation said no one requested medals for the four Marines and fellow snipers who saved Ryan's life on a rooftop in Iraq in April 2005, Hinchey said. It took five months for the Marines Corps to reverse its claim that Ryan was wounded by enemy fire and instead admit that his injuries were caused by friendly fire.
Hinchey said he has since learned that requests were made for medals. "Whether by honest error or through deliberate machination, they failed to make it through the (award system)," Hinchey wrote to Conway.
"It is time for the misleading answers and half-truths to end." he said.
Eddie's father, Chris Ryan, said his son and the rest of the family want the investigation reopened. The family has copies of the medal requests, he said.
"We have got to get to the bottom of this," Chris Ryan said. "Maybe we will find out why we were lied to. We, the family, we need this. We want the Marines to get the medals they deserve."
Ellie
By Paul Brooks
Times Herald-Record
May 24, 2007
Ellenville — The Marine Corps has screwed up the investigation into medals for the Marines who saved Sgt. Eddie Ryan's life, Rep. Maurice Hinchey said.
And the congressman wants the problem fixed.
Hinchey, D-Hurley, has written to Gen. James T. Conway, commandant of the Marine Corps, demanding a new review of the matter and an immediate awarding of the medals.
The most recent investigation said no one requested medals for the four Marines and fellow snipers who saved Ryan's life on a rooftop in Iraq in April 2005, Hinchey said. It took five months for the Marines Corps to reverse its claim that Ryan was wounded by enemy fire and instead admit that his injuries were caused by friendly fire.
Hinchey said he has since learned that requests were made for medals. "Whether by honest error or through deliberate machination, they failed to make it through the (award system)," Hinchey wrote to Conway.
"It is time for the misleading answers and half-truths to end." he said.
Eddie's father, Chris Ryan, said his son and the rest of the family want the investigation reopened. The family has copies of the medal requests, he said.
"We have got to get to the bottom of this," Chris Ryan said. "Maybe we will find out why we were lied to. We, the family, we need this. We want the Marines to get the medals they deserve."
Ellie