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Update 5-9-17
Lt. Ryan's remain have been identified and will be buried at Arlington National Cemetery on May 10, 2017. Read the story here.
Many thanks to those who have worked so hard to bring Lt. Ryan home and for your diligent work in returning our other fallen servicemen and servicewomen.
I am far too young to remember the Vietnam War. My father served there, as did many other fine men I know. Each of them is a personal hero, and I would not be the person I am today if I had never known them.
This page is my small tribute to one particular hero, one of far too many names on a Wall that is far too big. I wear a POW/MIA wristband inscribed with Lt. Ryan's name; I also have a reproduction of Lt. Ryan's name on the Vietnam War Memorial. Though I never met him, I know I will see Lt. Ryan in heaven. Several years ago, I have had some minor contact with Lt. Ryan's family, who provided me with the following short bio of a man I never got a chance to meet:
Lt. William C. Ryan, Jr. (a.k.a, Billy or Rhino, as his buddies called him)
Billy Ryan was born in Hoboken, NJ on April 24, 1944 and grew up in Bogota, NJ. Ryan was a three-sport athlete at St. Cecilia's High School in Engelwood, NJ (no longer open). He starred as a QB/RB in football, shortstop in baseball, and as the point guard for his basketball team, and was a very good student. Ryan graduated in 1962. His size kind of hurt him as far as scholarships were concerned (5'9", 160lbs) and he attended a small Catholic school, St. Francis College in Loretto, PA, where he played baseball and eventually, met his future wife, Judy. The summer of 1966, after his graduation, the Marine Corps recruiters came on campus, took Billy Ryan out for a beer, and the rest is history. After that final semester, he decided that he wanted to be a fighter pilot. William and Judy Ryan were married in the summer of '66; then headed off to flight school in Pensacola, FL; then training in El Toro, CA and Miramar; then orders to Vietnam in 8/68 (Michael Sean Ryan was born in May of '68).
Lt. Ryan was a member of the Marine Air Wing (VMFA-323 "Death Rattlers", VMFA-334, VMFA-115). He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, the most coveted air medal. Lt. Ryan was also awarded a Purple Heart (rescued by the "Jolly Green Giants" helicopter rescue team after an earlier mission where his plane was shot down and he managed to eject, parachute, etc.) -- not to mention a host of other medals he earned during Vietnam.
After 300 missions, he was shot down over Laos, two days before R&R where he was to meet wife Judy in Hawaii (May 11, 1969). It was one day before his son's first birthday. They never found his body or any remains for that matter, thus he is listed as MIA/KIA, Vietnam War. His name appears on panel 25W, line 54 of the Vietnam War Memorial.
After his death, St. Cecilia's High School established a scholarship in Lt. Ryan's name.
Judy Ryan remarried, and is a school principal. Michael Sean Ryan lives in Northern Virginia and works for MCI. He is working towards an MBA at George Mason University. Lt. Ryan's father, William C. Ryan, resides in Melbourne, FL. Lt. Ryan's brother Ed lives in Summit, NJ; his brother Johnny is in Toms River, NJ; his sister Carol lives in Rochelle Park, NJ.
Follow this link for another tribute (with a picture).
While this part of my home page is dedicated to one hero from one war, please understand that the words here apply to every man or woman who has served this country. If it goes unsaid elsewhere, then read it here: Thank you. I mean it.
Some other links of interest:
please spend a moment to peruse the Wall
a tribute to Cdr. Billie J. Cartwright (broken link)
a tribute to Capt. John W. Consolve, Jr.
a tribute to Sgt. Gary R. LaBohn
a tribute to Sgt. Thomas Moore
a tribute to Capt. Richard Rich
a tribute to Col. Charles E. Shelton
Senator John McCain (AZ) (a survivor and a hero)
Freedom Chapter #430, Philadelphia, PA (broken link)
an index to the Wall (please let it load, it is slow, b/c there are way too many names...)
the Vietnam Veterans home page
Many thanks to those who have provided this information. If you have anything you can add or update, please send an email to davenms[at]gmail.com.
last updated 1.24.2019
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