Ranger Ryan Family Fund

     This fund was started by close friends of Kevin in order to provide his wife and two children monetary support in their time of need. Kevin's untimely death occured during a time when he had no life insurance or any additional means of providing long term financial assistance for his family in his absence.

      Kevin W. Ryan, 35 passed away suddenly on Thursday September 13th in Port Wentworth, GA. Kevin, his wife Theresa, and their children Kayla and Jack are from Chicago, IL. The family moved to Savannah upon his enlistment with the US Army.
    
     Kevin Ryan proudly served in every platoon in Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment from August 2006 to April 2015 at Hunter Army Airfield. During that time, he deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq a total of 9 times in support of the Global War on Terror, OIF, and OEF. He graduated Airborne School, Ranger Indoctrination Program (RIP), Pre-Ranger, Ranger School, Sniper School, Jumpmaster Course, Emergency Medical Technician, Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape (SERE), Advanced marksmanship courses, and many other courses. He served in every duty position from Assistant Gunner for the Anti-Tank Section, through Squad Leader. SSG Ryan earned his Expert Infantryman's Badge, Combat Infantryman's Badge, Ranger Tab, Army Achievement Medal, Army Accommodation Medal, and many other awards and decorations.
   
     He loved serving his country and also cherished the memory of his fallen comrades in 1st Ranger Battalion. Kevin's dedication to his men in every respect was unparalleled. He exhausted all means available, to him and others, in order to provide his Rangers with the knowledge, context, motivation, leadership, and equipment they needed to not only accomplish their mission but to do so in a manner representative of only the best Ranger squad.

     In 2013 Kevin was diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis (UC) an incurable autoimmune disease which brought him much pain and distress. He was medically discharged from active duty in April 2015 due to this condition and its many complications. Prior to his diagnosis, Kevin had long planned to continue serving his country as a Ranger by any means available to him. Unfortunately, he was forced to end his service on active duty and continue the the fight elsewhere. After his honorable medical discharge, Kevin started receiving IV infusions at Candler Hospital in Savannah which put him into remission. Then in 2015 Kevin was able to deploy 2 more times to Afghanistan as a security contractor with a private firm. Sadly, his disease returned which made it impossible for him to function in this role any longer.

     Kevin will be missed by his family especially his children Kayla and Jack who felt their dad was their hero. The Funeral service and burial were held in Chicago.
   
     Parts of this story were originally published in the Savannah Morning News on Sept. 18, 2017.