People and Politics by Patrick Roberts

Ryan Grady, an Irish American hero, died in Afghanistan on eve of July 4

Posted on Monday, July 05, 2010 at 12:51 AM

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I don't know who Private First Class Ryan Grady was except he was another Irish American hero who died serving this country this Independence Day.

Ryan Grady's body was brought back from Afghanistan on July 4th where he had served with the Vermont National Guard.

On the day he died the 25-year-old ate breakfast with his brother Kevin, another National Guard member. Hours later an improved explosive device killed him. Four others in his vehicle were seriously injured.

Grady lived in West Burke, Vermont. .

He was one of three brothers enlisted in the military,.

James Grady, Ryan's brother, described their father's grief to the Tulsa World newspaper in Oklahoma where the family was originally from . "My dad is not doing very well," James Grady said. "It's the first time I've ever heard him cry."

Grady was an veteran and had already received a purple heart for bravery and he leaves behind a wife and six-year-old daughter.

He was a hero like so many Irish Americans before him, and indeed any American who dons his country's uniform.

May he rest in peace

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ThePyrata | Jul 06, 2010, 01:20 AM EDT

Ryan, son of Ireland and on loan to America, God bless you and rest in peace. Pax Christi, Pyrata I will not forget. Nor can any of us. From the Foggy Dew: "Twas England (AMERICA) bade our wild geese go That small nations might be free; Their lonely graves are by Suvla's waves On the fringe of the grey North Sea. But had they died by Pearse's side Or fought with Valera true, Their graves we'd keep where the Fenians sleep, 'Neath the hills of the foggy dew."

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bonnstock2 | Jul 05, 2010, 08:19 PM EDT

Vermont has a relatively small population, but has 1,500 members of the Nation al Guard serving in Afghanistan. RIP PFC Grady.

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irishimport | Jul 05, 2010, 06:41 PM EDT

surly you mean improvised

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Aliciarose | Jul 05, 2010, 06:14 PM EDT

What are we doing over there??? Time to bring them all home and let these people who start these wars fight among themselves.

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StevieWeavie | Jul 05, 2010, 09:40 AM EDT

Very Sad. The lose of a child is unbearable. I cried when I read that Ryan's dad cried. His faith is the only thing that will bring him through this and that is knowing he will see him again. GOD will take excellent care of him. This will be a very tough time for everyone in the family. Each of them will hurt and deal in there own way. One is not hurting more than the other though some will feel that way due to the way they will deal with the lose of Ryan. The lost of a child has caused marriages to break up due to one feeling the other didn't appear to be hurting as badly. Though they all do. Some feel that the pain will go away but it does not, you will just learn to handle it better as time goes on but you will never forget. GOD Bless you all. Damn these leaders that can't keep PEACE!

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jrgolfsmau | Jul 05, 2010, 08:47 AM EDT

an american hero

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