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Ryan C. Job
March 11, 1981 - September 24, 2009 |
| Greetings;
It is with overwhelming sadness that I tell you of the passing of Navy SEAL Ryan Job.
Ryan leaves behind a grateful nation, his fellow SEALs, his mother, father, sister, brother and his wife Kelly who is three months pregnant with their first child ( Ryan's Obituary).
I would like to take this opportunity to share with you Ryan's story and the great lessons that he taught me.
Regards,
Robert W. Vera, Co-Founder
Ironbody Lifestyle Fitness, LLC
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| The Sheriffs of Ramandi;
Ryan completed BUDS Training and was assigned to SEAL Team 3. He deployed to Iraq in April 2006.
On the morning of August 2, 2006 while on a roof top in Ar. Ramadi, Iraq a snipers bullet tore into Ryan's face. Ryan's SEAL teammates told me that upon seeing the wound they were sure that it was mortal. Ryan himself told me that if it were not for his training and his fellow SEALs who cared for him, he would have died that day.
The fighting was so intense that a helicopter could not be used to evacuate him. Ryan would have to be moved from the roof to an awaiting Bradley Fighting Vehicle on the ground. As his friends worked to save his life, Ryan regained consciousness, told them that he was OK, then as if raising from the dead he stood up and evacuated himself while his fellow SEALs covered him as they shot their way to the awaiting Bradley.
Sadly, later that day, Navy SEAL Marc Lee, Ryan's friend and one of his SEAL teammates that helped to shuttle Ryan to safety was shot and killed pursuing the enemy that shot Ryan.
Several weeks later while in hospital back in Bethesda. Ryan learned of the death of his friend Marc Lee and of another SEAL brother Michael Monsoor who was killed several weeks later on another rooftop in Ramadi.
Ryan would also learn the devastating news that he would never regain his sight.
These incidents are recounted in the books the Sheriffs of Ramadi and SEALs; The US Navy Elite Fighting Force.
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 Conquering Blindness;
I met Ryan after the injury that left him blind. He was going to college, swimming and weight training. He had plans to hike mountains, do triathlons and continue doing the things that he loved, including hunting. Ryan was great at being blind. He never complained, never made excuses. In a strange way he made his blindness an adventure that we both participated in.
We would run, cycle and hike together and nobody knew he was blind. We pushed each other, he was a great training partner. In July of 2008 Ryan traveled to Washington to climb the 14,411 Mount Rainier with a group from Camp Patriot. I read a description of the climb to him which stated that 50% of the climbers that attempt to reach the summit don't make it. Ryan told me the he would be in the other 50%. Sure enough on July 10, 2008, Ryan stood on the rooftop of Mount Rainier, less that 2 years after he cheated death on a rooftop in Iraq ( Seattle Times Story).
A few months later Ryan was traveling again, this time he was off to Idaho to go Elk hunting. In the car on the way to the airport, I pointed out that he was blind and that in most cases hunting required seeing the prey. He told me that he had that figured out and asked me how I like my Elk, ground or in chops. Two days later he called me to let me know he bagged a 980 pound giant Elk. This made him a living legend in my book. He told me that his blindness was an advantage as both the Elk and Rainier underestimated him. I never did.
My Lesson: Where there is a will, there is a way.
PS. I recently finished the last of my Elk burger. |
| 4.0;
The Sentinels of Freedom set Ryan up to earn his Bachelors Degree. Ryan was determined not to let them down. He was going to graduate with a 4.0 GPA. This is a difficult task for any person let alone a blind man, and it was made near impossible by the fact that Ryan could not sleep. There were months where he slept only a few hours a week.
On the Sunday before he died, Ryan and his wife Kelly sat together and they posted his last assignment. He earned his Bachelors degree, with a GPA of 4.0.
My Lesson: Perfection requires perfect persistance.
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| The Metals In His Closet;
One time I was helping Ryan find something in his closet and I came across his Bronze Star and other medals. He never told me of them, I pull them down and as I read the words aloud of his deeds in an alley one day in Iraq. I knew that I was in the presence of greatness. I asked him; Were you afraid? He told me that the reason why he did what he did was because he did not want to let his team down. He was more afraid to let them down than to be killed by the enemy. I think that Ryan was afraid, but he did it anyway. He did it because he loved the guys that he trained and fought with and this love gave him courage to face anything. Ryan's deeds in that alley were not to earn a piece of metal, they were to earn the love and respect and his fellow SEALs.
My Lesson: There is no greater love than to give of yourself to the ones that you love. |
| The Character Formula;
A few nights before Ryan died he told his wife Kelly that his priorities were;
# 1. His Lord and Savior
# 2. Her, his wife, and
# 3. His family and friends
Ryan's priorities informed his choices and his choices created his Character. This is the formula for creating a strong Character. This was his last precious gift to me.
My Lesson: Now I understand why #1 must be #1.
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When he has tested me, I will come forth as gold;
This Golden Trident is the most valued possession of every Navy SEAL.
Ryan and I would often talk about the Book of Job and how ironic it was that his name was Job. When things got tough, I would tell him; "Relax, it's just another test", then I would quote my favorite Job verse; 23:10:
"But he knows the way that I take: when he test me, I shall come forth as gold".
At the end of his funeral his fellow SEALs walked up to his wooden casket, two at a time, side by side, each with their Golden Trident in hand. They placed this most valued possession atop of the casket and with a closed fist and powerful strike they nailed their Golden Tridents into the wood.
Each bang created an echo of frustration, pain and grief that reverberated through all in attendance. When every Navy SEAL had paid his final respects the casket was covered in gold.
Ryan's loyal dog Trey and I led Ryan out of the church for the last time. As the pallbearers carried him behind us, I looked back and got a glimpse of him coming forth in gold, just like it said in the book.
My Lesson: It's all borrowed time and it's all only a test. |
| Final Reflection:
Ryan passed from this world far too young. He had accomplished so much in such a short time and was truly a noble soul.
I am reminded of the eulogy given by Ralph Waldo Emerson of his friend, hero and inspiration Henry David Thoreau. Thoreau's, like Ryan's sudden death at a young age came as a shock to everyone. The last paragraph of his eulogy can only be spoken about a rare few great people in this world, Ryan Job was one of them.
"The country knows not yet, or in the least part, how great a son it has lost. It seems an injury that he should leave in the midst of his broken task which none else can finish, a kind of indignity to so noble a soul that he should depart out of Nature before yet he has been really shown to his peers for what he is. But he, at least, is content. His soul was made for the noblest society; he had in a short life exhausted the capabilities of this world; wherever there is knowledge, wherever there is virtue, wherever there is beauty, he will find a home".
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BUDS. 