Marine Vignette #127, Looking For Pvt Ryan, By George Maling (H-3-5)

From: "George Maling" <gmaling@peoplepc.com> Save Address Block Sender
To: <gunnyg@hotmail.com> Save Address
CC: "george Maling" <gmaling@juno.com> Save Address
Subject: LOOKING FOR PRIVATE RYAN
Date: Fri, 21 Jan 2000 09:44:05 -0500

I did not look for a Private Ryan, a la the popular movie, 'cause the =
last time he was a Private was when he entered Parris Island in '48.THe =
last Ryan I was looking for was with me in E-2-6 at Camp Lejeune in '50 =
& '51, took amphibious trainning at Little Creek , Va., went on a Med =
Cruise, invaded the island of Viegus in the Caribbean while on division =
manuvers with the 2nd Mar. Div., stomped the Sierra Nevada Mts. at =
Pickle Meadows, Nevada for cold weather trainning with the 19th =
replacement draft(supposed to be with the 18th draft but some how our =
urders were "lost", frolicked our way through Hollywood, Kobe, Japan and =
at last ended in our beloved H-3-5, 1st Mar. Div. in March '52. By July =
of that year, Ryan was now a Sergeant who had the third squad, I had the =
second and another pal from F-2-6 , Augie Longo , had the first squad.
Augie got hit on patrol ,received the Silver Star and Purple Heart and =
left for the hospital ship " Jutlandia, (Danish). I got hit on O.P. =
Esther 12-18-52 and had to be evacuated ASAP. I had lost considerable =
blood while weaving my way back to the MLR and the last few hundred =
yards or so , I felt I couldn't go any further. The gooks were shooting =
up a storm or so I was told, but from out of his safe and secure =
position on the MLR , Jim Ryan , with complete disregard for his own =
safety, came running out, threw his arm around me and half carried me =
back into the safety of our own lines.
I saw Jim a few times after that, then discharged and civilian life. I =
knew that Jim came from Vermont and I traveled there on business many =
times and always perused the phone books to no avail.
My son gave me a computer a year ago and when I updated it , I looked =
in the search area and found Jim in Vermont. We had a great =
conversation. I asked him what he did in civilian life nad he responded, =
" I was with the State Police". Like a good reporter , I followed that =
up with, " What did you do for them?" and he answered , " I was Director =
of Public Safety for the State of Vermont ".
This vignette just goes to show with the trainning and schooling =
received while serving with H-3-5, it paid off handsomely for Jim.
I could not think of enough accolades to describe what a wonderful =
person and a truly great Marine Jim Ryan was and still is.