thedrifter
08-07-08, 06:05 AM
08/07/2008
A real lifesaver: Marine who came to aid of Sgt. Eddie Ryan is honored
By Ariel Zangla , Freeman staff
TOWN OF NEWBURGH - More than three years after Marine Sgt. Eddie Ryan was shot in the head in a friendly-fire incident in Iraq, one of the Marines who helped save his life was publicly honored on Wednesday.
Marine Sgt. Kenneth Burdine was presented the Navy Commendation Medal - with a V device, for valor - during a ceremony at the Stewart Air National Guard Base.
Burdine was one of the Marines on patrol with Ryan on April 13, 2005, in Husaybah, Iraq, when the Ellenville native was shot twice in the head. U.S. Rep. Maurice Hinchey, who presented the medal on Wednesday, said Ryan was alive because of the efforts of Burdine and fellow Marine Sgt. Karl Schaeffer.
Advertisement
"Plain and simple, Sgt. Eddie Ryan would not still be with us today were it not for the heroic efforts of Sgt. Kenneth Burdine and Sgt. Karl Schaeffer," said Hinchey, D-Hurley. "I join the Ryan family in expressing my extraordinary gratitude to these two fine members of our armed forces who, without hesitation, jumped into oncoming fire in order to save the life of their comrade."
The congressman said both Marines are heroes and that Schaeffer, who could not attend the ceremony, also would receive a commendation medal.
Hinchey said he also has strongly encouraged the Marine Corps to award the Bronze Star to Burdine and Schaeffer, as well as to Sgt. Carl J. Quinlan and Lance Cpl. Andrew Senior, who were the other members of the team with Ryan when he was shot.
Burdine - a Cincinnati native currently stationed at Camp Lejeune, N.C. - received his commendation medal with fellow Marines, including Ryan, looking on. Also on hand were relatives and friends of the wounded Marine.
After the medal was presented, Chris Ryan, Eddie's father, gave Burdine a plaque from the family recognizing the Marine's uncommon valor. Chris Ryan said his family was forever indebted to Burdine for saving Eddie's life.
"We wanted these Marines to be recognized because without them, we wouldn't have Eddie," Chris Ryan said. He also thanked Hinchey for his assistance in obtaining the medals for Burdine and Schaeffer.
After Eddie Ryan was shot, it took five months for the Marine Corps to reverse its position that he had been injured by hostile, rather than friendly, fire, according to Hinchey's office.
Hinchey became involved in the case by working to secure improved care for Ryan during his stay at a Veterans Administration hospital in Virginia and the release of funding for home modifications upon the Marine's return to Ellenville. The congressman also helped the Ryan family secure appropriate outpatient care and worked to ensure Ryan received a Purple Heart.
Burdine said on Wednesday that Ryan has made tremendous progress in his recovery. He said that when the shooting occurred, "everyone on the team automatically assumed he was dead." Burdine said there was a lot of blood, but then Ryan began making noise and the Marines' training kicked in.
Burdine said he and the other members of the unit began giving Ryan first aid before bringing him to a location where he could be driven to a waiting helicopter. Burdine said the rooftop shooting was unexpected and that his team realized it was a friendly-fire incident right away.
"I owe him my life," Ryan said of Burdine. He joked that it was Burdine who carried his "fat ass" off the rooftop in Iraq, saving his life.
Burdine said Ryan would have done the same for him.
"It's not about this," Burdine said of his medal. "It's about Eddie."
Ryan, 24, was early in his second tour in Iraq when he was critically injured in the shooting. Following the incident, he underwent extensive care and rehabilitation, which continue to this day.
Chris Ryan said his son has come a long way since the shooting. He said the family hired a physical trainer for Eddie and is spending more than $1,000 a week on different types of therapies, including massage and music. The work has paid off, Chris Ryan said, because his son, who uses a wheelchair, now is able to stand on his own for periods of time.
"He's got a long road, but thank God we've got a road," Chris Ryan said.
During Wednesday's event, Eddie Ryan smiled and joked with family, friends and reporters. When asked if he would walk again, Eddie Ryan responded, "I'm gonna run."
Angela Ryan, Eddie's mother, said there were not enough words to thank the men who helped her son.
On the Web: www.helpeddieryan.com
Ellie
A real lifesaver: Marine who came to aid of Sgt. Eddie Ryan is honored
By Ariel Zangla , Freeman staff
TOWN OF NEWBURGH - More than three years after Marine Sgt. Eddie Ryan was shot in the head in a friendly-fire incident in Iraq, one of the Marines who helped save his life was publicly honored on Wednesday.
Marine Sgt. Kenneth Burdine was presented the Navy Commendation Medal - with a V device, for valor - during a ceremony at the Stewart Air National Guard Base.
Burdine was one of the Marines on patrol with Ryan on April 13, 2005, in Husaybah, Iraq, when the Ellenville native was shot twice in the head. U.S. Rep. Maurice Hinchey, who presented the medal on Wednesday, said Ryan was alive because of the efforts of Burdine and fellow Marine Sgt. Karl Schaeffer.
Advertisement
"Plain and simple, Sgt. Eddie Ryan would not still be with us today were it not for the heroic efforts of Sgt. Kenneth Burdine and Sgt. Karl Schaeffer," said Hinchey, D-Hurley. "I join the Ryan family in expressing my extraordinary gratitude to these two fine members of our armed forces who, without hesitation, jumped into oncoming fire in order to save the life of their comrade."
The congressman said both Marines are heroes and that Schaeffer, who could not attend the ceremony, also would receive a commendation medal.
Hinchey said he also has strongly encouraged the Marine Corps to award the Bronze Star to Burdine and Schaeffer, as well as to Sgt. Carl J. Quinlan and Lance Cpl. Andrew Senior, who were the other members of the team with Ryan when he was shot.
Burdine - a Cincinnati native currently stationed at Camp Lejeune, N.C. - received his commendation medal with fellow Marines, including Ryan, looking on. Also on hand were relatives and friends of the wounded Marine.
After the medal was presented, Chris Ryan, Eddie's father, gave Burdine a plaque from the family recognizing the Marine's uncommon valor. Chris Ryan said his family was forever indebted to Burdine for saving Eddie's life.
"We wanted these Marines to be recognized because without them, we wouldn't have Eddie," Chris Ryan said. He also thanked Hinchey for his assistance in obtaining the medals for Burdine and Schaeffer.
After Eddie Ryan was shot, it took five months for the Marine Corps to reverse its position that he had been injured by hostile, rather than friendly, fire, according to Hinchey's office.
Hinchey became involved in the case by working to secure improved care for Ryan during his stay at a Veterans Administration hospital in Virginia and the release of funding for home modifications upon the Marine's return to Ellenville. The congressman also helped the Ryan family secure appropriate outpatient care and worked to ensure Ryan received a Purple Heart.
Burdine said on Wednesday that Ryan has made tremendous progress in his recovery. He said that when the shooting occurred, "everyone on the team automatically assumed he was dead." Burdine said there was a lot of blood, but then Ryan began making noise and the Marines' training kicked in.
Burdine said he and the other members of the unit began giving Ryan first aid before bringing him to a location where he could be driven to a waiting helicopter. Burdine said the rooftop shooting was unexpected and that his team realized it was a friendly-fire incident right away.
"I owe him my life," Ryan said of Burdine. He joked that it was Burdine who carried his "fat ass" off the rooftop in Iraq, saving his life.
Burdine said Ryan would have done the same for him.
"It's not about this," Burdine said of his medal. "It's about Eddie."
Ryan, 24, was early in his second tour in Iraq when he was critically injured in the shooting. Following the incident, he underwent extensive care and rehabilitation, which continue to this day.
Chris Ryan said his son has come a long way since the shooting. He said the family hired a physical trainer for Eddie and is spending more than $1,000 a week on different types of therapies, including massage and music. The work has paid off, Chris Ryan said, because his son, who uses a wheelchair, now is able to stand on his own for periods of time.
"He's got a long road, but thank God we've got a road," Chris Ryan said.
During Wednesday's event, Eddie Ryan smiled and joked with family, friends and reporters. When asked if he would walk again, Eddie Ryan responded, "I'm gonna run."
Angela Ryan, Eddie's mother, said there were not enough words to thank the men who helped her son.
On the Web: www.helpeddieryan.com
Ellie