Farewell Ranger Ryan Casey McGhee

RELEASE NUMBER: 090514-01
DATE POSTED: MAY 14, 2009

PRESS RELEASE:  Army Ranger killed in action

U.S. Army Special Operations Command Public Affairs Office

FORT BRAGG, N.C. (USASOC News Service, May 14, 2009) — An Army Ranger died May 13 while conducting combat operations in Central Iraq while serving with 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, Fort Benning, Ga.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA         Corporal Ryan Casey McGhee, 21, was killed by small arms fire when his unit came in contact with enemy forces. The unit was conducting operations to rid Iraq of a weapons facilitator and a suicide vest cell known to be operating in the area.

“Cpl. Ryan McGhee’s actions are in the finest traditions of this great Regiment,” said Col. Richard D. Clarke, 75th Ranger Regiment Commander. “He continuously answered his Nation’s call, fighting the most tenacious, fanatical and resolute enemies of our country during multiple deployments to places where most would or could not go. His memory will not be forgotten by our Rangers.”

McGhee was on his fourth deployment in support of the War on Terror with three previous deployments to Afghanistan.

A native of Fredericksburg, Va., McGhee initially entered the U.S. Army Aug. 1, 2006.  After completion of One Station Unit Training, Basic Airborne Course and the Ranger Indoctrination Program at Fort Benning, Ga., he was assigned to Company B, 3rd Bn., at Fort Benning, Ga.

McGhee served as a Rifleman and Grenadier before serving as a Weapons Squad Team Leader with Company D.

McGhee’s military education includes the Basic Airborne Course, Ranger Indoctrination Program, and the U.S. Army Ranger Course.

His awards and decorations include Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with Combat Star, Iraq Campaign Medal with Combat Star, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Overseas Service Ribbon, Combat Infantryman Badge, Parachutist Badge and the Ranger Tab.

McGhee is survived by his father Steven McGhee of Myrtle Beach S.C., his mother Sherrie L. McGhee of Knoxville, Tenn., and his brother Zachary.

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James A. Restucci is the author of this blog. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 Internal License.

7 Responses to Farewell Ranger Ryan Casey McGhee

  1. jimr says:

    Thank you for your comments PM, I am not sure how you knew Ryan; however please accept my heartfelt condolences on your loss.

  2. PM says:

    A wonderful young man. I love you and miss you Ryan.

  3. I regret the loss of every warrior in our present conflict. However the 75th Ranger Regiment is dear to my heart. My brother was with the 75th Ranger Airborne/LRRPs, Vietnam. He was KIA 12/6/67.
    http://dave-dickinson.memory-of.com/
    God Bless America and those who defend our shores.
    Thanks to All Veterans!

  4. EagleWatch says:

    Jim, I want to thank you for the interest and honor you exhibit for our Shadow Warriors. As you say, most of the successes, by necessity, go unannounced while most of the failures enjoy wide and senseless coverage.

    I raise a glass to Corporal McGhee and another to you, my friend.

  5. TVNews says:

    I raise my glass in tribute and thanks to their sacrifice. May he find peace and happiness in what ever comes next.

  6. jimr says:

    No, I didn’t know Corporal McGhee; however I deployed with members of his unit in 1993.  I have 3 very close friends in SOCOM deployed in SW Asia right now, so I signed up for the SOCOM newsletter, I am making it a point to recognize the “Silent Warriors” on my blog, not that the regular military isn’t important, it’s just that the SOCOM operators work in the shadows and unless their death is front page news, you never hear about it.

  7. TVNews says:

    My solution just keeps looking better and better all the time.

    Did you know Corporal McGhee?