Ryan Owens; hometown remembers hero
Our buddy, Andy Kravetz examines a national loss from a hometown perpective;
Chief Special Warfare Operator William “Ryan” Owens, 36, a 1998 Illinois Valley Central graduate, died Saturday in the Arabian Peninsula of Yemen, of wounds sustained in a raid against al-Qaida, according to a Department of Defense news release.
Cody Jackson, a high school friend of Owens, said he was shocked to hear of his death but not surprised, as Owens wanted to be a SEAL from the time he was 15.
“Since he was a freshman in high school, this kid decided he wanted to protect his country. He never once wavered from that. He always said he wanted to serve, and as much as this hurts, he would not have wanted it any other way,” Jackson said. “Everyone has dreams and not everyone knows what they want to do in high school, but he did. He wanted to be a Navy SEAL. Back then, he wasn’t the most fit guy in the world but he’d get up every morning and do the Navy SEAL workout because that’s what he wanted to do.”
Category: We Remember
May God bless you and your family, rest in peace, you have done your duty.
A central IL boy! Wow…
God speed and RIP warrior.
Fair winds and following seas, warrior.
May God comfort your family and friends.
RIP.
Men like this never ever had to wish for a “do over” in life.
est in Peace.
Rest in Peace
Another Warrior is taken from us far too soon as he takes his place in History and in Valhalla.
Rest In Peace, Warrior.
I’m in a quiet rage right now, because on the front page of OUR local rag is the banner headline trumpeting the local diocese and local college’s defiance of Trump’s immigration ban. All I can think is that this man died trying to stop the people that these dumbasses want to let in. To say that I feel like my reality shifted somewhere down the line is an understatement.
I don’t pray for him, I HONOR him and his family for their sacrifice. Any God worth his salt will make sure of this warriors paradise.
Godspeed, SEAL. Enjoy the quaffing and the curvy blonde ladies. 🙂
Good story… sounds like a “flyover country” kid that done good.
God Bless the family, friends and teammates for CPO Ryan Owens
Rest in Peace, Brother.
And Andy comes in here and shows us that there are good reporters in the world. That is nice to know.
Thanks, Andy, for honoring a hero.
Yes indeed, Andy Kravetz is living proof that there are Real People in the News Media who care about doing the job right.
Mr. K is indeed part of the solution vice part of the problem.
Thanks, Andy. Nice article.
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Rest in peace, CPO Owens. Gone far too soon.
We would like very much if all of these fine men, men such as Navy SEAL Owens, returned home to their families and friends, hale and whole, to live out long lives among those who love them. It is ironic and tragic that the very people who would succeed at any endeavor they undertook, who are, to be sure, among the best this nation produces, choose to be warriors and, with that choice, assume the greatest of risk. It is neither popular nor common nowadays to speak in terms of glory and honor, but the terms apply to men such as Owens.
God comfort his grieving family and friends.
I salute you, comrade in arms. Job well done. May you now rest in peace, sir.
Linda E.
USAF, Ret.
‘MLB stars memorialize fallen Navy SEAL, one of their biggest fans’
http://www.foxnews.com/sports/2017/02/01/mlb-stars-memorialize-fallen-navy-seal-one-their-biggest-fans.html
‘Published February 01, 2017
No matter how many times the San Francisco Giants are defeated this season, Sunday’s loss off the field may hit the hardest.
A trio of current and former Giants players posted Instagram remembrances on Tuesday of a Navy SEAL killed during a mission in Yemen targeting high-value terrorists.
Chief Special Warfare Operator William “Ryan” Owens was memorialized by star catcher Buster Posey, reliever Hunter Strickland and free agent closer Sergio Romo.
“He would come to spring training frequently and I had the honor of meeting him and his son in 2012,” Posey wrote. “For me, it is easy to take for granted the life that my family and I get to live every day. Words don’t do justice for the gratitude that I have for people like Ryan that sacrifice their lives fighting against evil, so that we may live with freedom.”
Posey said he was told of Owens’ death by free agent and former teammate Javier Lopez. The players each posted a picture along with their posts showing Owens in Giants garb speaking to members of the team in their clubhouse.
“Deeply saddened to hear about the passing of one of America’s True Heroes,” Strickland wrote. “…God Bless your family and friends and Thank you for your sacrifices and services Ryan! #neverforgotten.”
Added Romo: “Truly an example of what a real #americanhero is! U will be missed yet #neverforgotten.”’
Classy move by Posey, Romo and Strickland… looks like CPO Owens really touch a few people in the SF Giants organization.
Rest in Peace, Chief.
“We sleep soundly in our beds because rough men (and women) stand ready in the night to visit violence on those who would do us harm.”
The GWOT has taken many good men and women from us, now including CPO Owens; we fellow warriors who survived will never forget, and will recite their tales of bravery and sacrifice always…
Thank God that men like him exist.
Rest in peace Brother. God be with your family.
First off, thanks for the compliments. Second off, the latest story has details on how to send cards and letters. You guys know how to reach more people than me. I have been flooded with emails and calls and tried to return as many as I can but well, I have other stories to write. Please go to our story and let people know. I appreciate it.
http://www.pjstar.com/news/20170201/trump-makes-surprise-visit-to-dover-afb-to-honor-fallen-peoria-seal
Thank God that PRESIDENTS like him exist.
Rest in Peace, Chief. God comfort your friends and family.
Rest in peace, Warrior. Prayers for your family, friends, and team.
I was very pleased to hear that our President left the White House to go and honor this great warrior! The former Asshole in chief I’m sure wouldn’t have let this very sad event interrupt his golf game!
Wasn’t the previous POTUS out golfing when a Major General who was KIA was being laid to rest?
RIP hero.
I want to point out that the latest information shows that the terrorist scum these brave SEAL heroes fought, actually knew ahead of time that the SEALs were coming. Yet, they did nothing to move the women and children to safer areas away from potential combat zones. Indeed, some of the women themselves started shooting at the SEALs.
I got choked reading this to my wife. Damn, it got dusty in here.
Michelangelo could not have sculpted a more nearly perfect warrior.
Almost at the twenty year mark too….
Rest in Peace Chief! God bless the incredible sacrifice that you and your family have made on behalf of the American people.
ALWAYS GRATEFUL, EVER THANKFUL. R.I.P. Chief Owens.