Cpl. Ryan C. McGhee, 21, was an automatic rifleman assigned to 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment at Fort Benning, Ga. He was born on Nov. 4, 1987 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He was killed on May 13, 2009 by small arms fire while conducting combat operations in Central Iraq, when his unit came in contact with enemy forces. His multi-task unit was conducting operations to rid Iraq of a weapons facilitator and suicide vest cell known to be operating in the area. Ryan was on his fourth deployment in support of the War on Terrorism with three previous deployments to Afghanistan.
After graduating from Massaponax High School, Ryan enlisted in the U.S. Army from his hometown of Fredericksburg, Va., in August 1, 2006. He completed One Station Unit Training at Fort Benning Ga., as an infantryman. After graduating from the Basic Airborne Course there, he was assigned to the Ranger Indoctrination Program also at Fort Benning. He graduated from the Ranger Indoctrination Program in February 2007 and was then assigned to Company B, 3rd Bn., 75th Ranger Regiment March 1, 2007. McGhee served as a Rifleman and Grenadier in Company B before selected to be one of the founding members of Company D. He served as a Weapons Squad Team Leader with Company D. His military education includes the Basic Airborne Course, Ranger Indoctrination Program, and the U.S. Army Ranger Tab Course.
Ryan was buried at Arlington National Cemetery on June 2, 2009 in Section 60, Site 8870. “RANGERS LEAD THE WAY!