USMC Veteran and family need help ASAP

Please take a second and help give back to a Marine- and his family- that have already given SO much.

In 2005, Ryan King was serving as a Marine Combat Engineer, attached to Lima Company, 3rd Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment (3/25) supporting combat operations in Al Anbar Province, Iraq. It was during this deployment that Ryan's life (and many other's) were changed forever. Despite the many successes and triumphs the Battalion had rooting out hostile insurgents and pacifying the volatile region surrounding the Euphrates River, 3/25 lost 48 Marines and sailors- the highest toll paid by any single unit during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Lima Company- or "Lucky Lima" as they would come to be known- bore the greatest cost; in total they lost 23 Marines/ sailors. The Company's deployment was captured on personal video and shown on A&E Combat Diaries: The Marines of Lima Company roughly a year later.



On May 11th, 2005, while the Battalion was heavily engaged on the Iraqi/ Syrian border conducting Operation Matador, Ryan was attached to a squad of Marines riding on a USMC Amtrack- or AAV- that struck an extremely large/ well placed Improvised Explosive Device (IED). The explosion decimated the lightly armored vehicle, instantly killing six Marines and seriously wounding the rest of the Marines on board. Ryan suffered catastrophic 2nd and 3rd degree burns to over 70% of his body, and was immediately evacuated to Germany, stabilized, and then transported to the United States. Over the next months and years, Ryan would undergo torturous reconstructive surgeries/ skin grafts, physical therapy, and counseling to come to terms with his 'Alive Day' and loss of so many of his brothers in arms.



Fast-forward to today. Ryan has continued to struggle with his recovery, though everyday he gets stronger. His wife- Cassandra, and their two children- Alec (11) and Bryn (9) continue to be his rock and foundation. The family has fallen on tough times as Ryan is between jobs. Without the necessary funds, the family stands to possibly lose their home. Ryan has exhausted ALL resources. Please, take the time to give back to a man and family who have already given so so much. Help them get back on their feet right now. Thank you and Semper Fi!

The below Marines were killed on May 11, 2005:

- Staff Sgt. Kendall H. Ivy II, 28, of Crawford, Ohio
- Lance Cpl. Wesley G. Davids, 20, of Dublin, Ohio
- Lance Cpl. Jonathan W. Grant, 23, of Santa Fe, New Mexico
- Lance Cpl. Jourdan L. Grez, 24, of Harrisonburg, Virginia
- Lance Cpl. Nicholas B. Erdy, 21, of Williamsburg, Ohio
- Pfc. Christopher R. Dixon, 18, of Columbus, Ohio

                          May they never be forgotten.