Gunnery Sgt. Ryan P. Shane, platoon gunnery sergeant from Company B, 1st Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 7, prepares for training Nov. 5 just days before the attack on the city of Fallujah. Shane was wounded by enemy fire during Operation Al Fajr while trying to save another Marine. Photo by: Cpl. Joel A. Chaverri
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Gunnery Sgt. Ryan P. Shane, platoon gunnery sergeant, Company B, 1st Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 7, pulls a fatally wounded Marine to safety while under fire during Operation Al Fajr. Seconds later Shane was also wounded by enemy fire. Photo by: Cpl. Joel A. Chaverri
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Gunnery Sgt. Ryan P. Shane (center), platoon gunnery sergeant from Company B, 1st Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 7, and another member of 1/8 pull a fatally wounded Marine to safety while under fire during Operation Al Fajr. Seconds later Shane was also wounded by enemy fire. Photo by: Cpl. Joel A. Chaverri
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Gunnery Sgt. Ryan P. Shane (left), platoon gunnery sergeant from Company B, 1st Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 7, is hit by enemy fire as he and another member of 1/8 try to pull fatally wounded Marine to safety during Operation Al Fajr. Photo by: Cpl. Joel A. Chaverri
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Gunnery Sgt. Ryan P. Shane (left), platoon gunnery sergeant from Company B, 1st Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 7, lay wounded after being hit by enemy fire while trying to pull a fatally wounded Marine to safety during Operation Al Fajr. Photo by: Cpl. Joel A. Chaverri
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Gunnery Sergeant wounded while trying to save fellow Marine
Submitted by: 1st Marine Division
Story Identification #: 200412179644
Story by Cpl. Joel A. Chaverri
FALLUJAH,Iraq (Dec. 17, 2004) -- The sound is loud, sharp and piercing. It’s a sound that is unforgiving and ruthless. Its actions are not always understood, yet its consequences… are severe.
It’s the sound of a bullet whizzing by. How close? It’s hard to tell. But out in the battlefield a Marine would probably say, “If you hear it, then you’re still alive.”
Zigzagging through alleyways to avoid enemy fire, Marines had just entered the city of Fallujah for Operation Al Fajr in the late hours of Nov. 8.
The sun was creeping up along the horizon of Nov. 9 when Company B, 1st Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 7, reached the first major intersection in the northern sector of the city. All sides were clear. The commander gave the “go,” and 1st squad darted across the wide road.
Then the sound.
Unmistakable, the Marines knew it was gunfire, and it was close. The squad now split by the main road, confusion erupted. Everyone quickly looked around, checking to see if anyone was hurt. Horrified, the Marines of Company B could see one of their own laying in the middle of the road.
Without hesitation, Gunnery Sgt. Ryan P. Shane, platoon sergeant, dashed out into the line of fire.
With sparks kicking up around him, Shane ran to the fatally wounded Marine, grabbed his collar, and attempted to pull him to safety. But the enemy was unrelenting, and within seconds, Shane spun to the ground.
The incoming fire was intense. The radio crackled, “Men down, men down!” People were screaming orders, everyone trying to figure what just happened.
Within seconds the Marines returned fire toward the enemy’s location. With the support of nearly every Marine and his weapon, a group ran out and rescued the downed Marines. Although severely wounded, Shane would pull through.
He was rushed out of the city, treated at a hospital, and is now recovering from his injuries.
Sgt. Joe Torres, squad leader, was second in command and took over once Shane was hit.
“‘Gunny’ had always been one to take care of his platoon,” said the 25-year-old native of San Diego, Texas. “It’s expected of him to run out into the middle of the street to save someone.”
According to members of the platoon, Shane’s sacrifices will always be remembered as he set the example for future leaders.
“He always used to say that we needed to be as ‘hard as woodpecker lips,’” said Sgt. Michael R. Ramirez, 26, a native of Hondo, Texas, and a squad leader. “He definitely proved that for himself out here.”
“He’s probably one of the best (staff non-commissioned officers) in the entire company,” said Lance Cpl. Xavier Forester, 23, a native of Tampa, Fla., and an assaultman. “He’s someone we can all look up to.”
Even with the early loss, the Marines of Company B were able to instantly take control of the situation, and continued to clear the city of insurgents and weapons.
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