Ryan Job
Ryan Curtis Job | |
|---|---|
 Job in Iraq prior to being shot | |
| Nickname(s) | Biggles |
| Born | March 11, 1981 Issaquah, Washington, United States |
| Died | September 24, 2009 (aged 28) Phoenix, Arizona, United States |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Service | United States Navy |
| Years of service | 2002–2007 |
| Rank | Petty officer second class (E5) |
| Unit | |
| Battles / wars | |
| Awards | Silver Star Bronze Star Medal (with "V" device) Purple Heart Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (with "V" device) Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (with "V" device) Good Conduct Medal[1] |
| Spouse(s) | Kelly Lester |
| Children | 1 |
| Relations | Chris Kyle, Marc Alan Lee, Kevin Lacz[2] |
Ryan Curtis Job (pronounced "Jobe")[3] (March 11, 1981 – September 24, 2009), also known by his nickname "Biggles",[1] was an American sailor and member of the United States Navy SEALs who was shot during a combat mission in Ramadi, Iraq, during the Second Battle of Ramadi. He survived the attack, but later died in an incident of medical malpractice, leading to a $4 million (2011 USD) lawsuit.
Job's shooting was described by Chris Kyle in his 2013 book American Sniper, and he was portrayed by Jake McDorman in the film of the same name.
Life and military career
[edit]Job was born on March 11, 1981, in Issaquah, Washington;[4] he had two younger siblings, including Aaron Job, who became a Marine.[5] After graduating from Issaquah High School,[5] he attended the University of Washington in the late 1990s,[4] and from there enlisted in the United States Navy. He began basic training on December 17, 2002, and completed it at Naval Station Great Lakes in February 2003. He later attended Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL training (BUD/S) at Naval Amphibious Base Coronado, and then underwent specialized SEAL training from May 2003 to November 2004. After completing Naval Special Warfare Advanced Training in June 2005, Job served with SEAL Team Three at Naval Amphibious Base Coronado from June 2005 until he was medically retired from the Navy on March 31, 2007.[1][6][7]
Injury and later life
[edit]On August 2, 2006, Job was shot in the head while on an overwatch mission with fellow SEAL members Chris Kyle and Marc Alan Lee in Ramadi, Iraq. A bullet fired by an enemy gunman ricocheted off Job's rifle and struck him in the left side of his face; the bullet went through his head and left him permanently blind.[3][5][8] Lee covered fire with an M60 machine gun while Kyle and another SEAL team member worked to carry Job down the steps of the building they were in.[8] Lee was shot and killed as Kyle, Job and others evacuated the building. Job was sent to Germany for treatment of his injuries, and then transported to the United States.[9]
Job moved in 2007 to Scottsdale, Arizona, where he completed his degree in business administration through online study.[3][5][10] He interned with General Dynamics, who offered him a position.[3] He became a spokesman for the Sentinels of Freedom Scholarship Foundation, an organization assisting injured veterans that had facilitated his move.[5] In July 2008, he climbed Mount Rainier with two other veterans injured in Iraq.[10] He also trained for a triathlon.[5]
Personal life and death
[edit]In 2007 Job married to Kelly Lester,[5][6] the owner of an endurance training company; she trained with him for the climb of Mount Rainier. They have a daughter, born after his death.[3]
Job died on September 24, 2009, after undergoing further treatment for his eye injuries at the Maricopa County Medical Center in Phoenix, Arizona;[5][11] it was later determined that he was administered a fatal combination of drugs.[12] A judge determined that his death was an incident of medical malpractice, and Maricopa County paid Job's family $4 million (2011 USD) to settle a malpractice lawsuit.[3][12]
In media
[edit]Job is the subject of Chris Kyle's 2013 book American Sniper. In the 2014 movie American Sniper he was portrayed by Jake McDorman.[13][14] In 2015, Robert Vera published A Warrior's Faith, a biography of Job from a Christian perspective.[3][15]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b c "Ryan 'Biggles' Curtis Job". National Navy UDT-SEAL Museum. December 15, 2022. Retrieved December 19, 2024.
- ^ LiVecche, Marc (August 2, 2017). "Punishers Down: The Fall of Marc Lee & Ryan Job". Providence Magazine. Retrieved December 19, 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f g Montini, E. J. (February 7, 2015). "From a rooftop with 'American Sniper' to heaven". The Arizona Republic (opinion). Retrieved December 27, 2024.
- ^ a b "Remembering Fellow Husky Rugger Ryan Job". Husky Rugby. University of Washington. Retrieved December 19, 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Thompson, Lynn (September 29, 2009) [September 26, 2009]. "Obituary: Ryan Job was a spokesman for wounded veterans". The Seattle Times. Retrieved December 27, 2024.
- ^ a b "#VeteranOfTheDay Navy Veteran Ryan Job". VA News. May 10, 2023. Retrieved December 27, 2024.
- ^ "Ryan Job". Veteran Tributes. Retrieved December 19, 2024.
- ^ a b Kyle 2013, p. 281.
- ^ Kyle 2013, p. 286.
- ^ a b "Trio of injured Iraq veterans stands tall on Rainier". The Seattle Times. July 11, 2008. Retrieved December 27, 2024.
- ^ "Issaquah war veteran dies after surgery". Issaquah Reporter. September 25, 2009. Retrieved December 19, 2024.
- ^ a b "4 Million Medical Malpractice Settlement For Navy Seals Death". Fronzuto Law. December 12, 2011. Retrieved December 27, 2024. Cited source: Ye Hee Lee, Michelle (December 3, 2011). "Navy SEAL Ryan Job: A portrait of determination, tragedy". The Arizona Republic.
- ^ American Sniper. Retrieved December 19, 2024 – via IMDb.
- ^ Lengel, Kerry. "'American Sniper's' Arizona connection". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved December 19, 2024.
- ^ Schaefer, Erika (March 13, 2015). "Honoring Ryan 'Biggles' Job: 'American Sniper' Chris Kyle's Fellow Navy SEAL Team 3 Member". Standard Newswire (press release). Retrieved December 27, 2024.
Sources
[edit]- Kyle, Chris (2013). "American Sniper: The Autobiography of the Most Lethal Sniper in U.S. Military History". Retrieved December 19, 2024 – via Academia.edu.