Ryan, a U.S. Army Apache helicopter pilot, landed his aircraft in Iraq’s notorious Triangle of Death to rescue two downed American pilots, lugged them 100 yards across an open field, and, because of a lack of space in the aircraft, strapped himself to the outside of the helicopter for the harrowing flight to the hospital. For his actions that day, Ryan received the Distinguished Flying Cross, which is awarded for acts of heroism or extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight.
Ryan and his wife Meredith have a two-year-old son named Austin, with another one on the way (Jack) in April. Ryan and his family live in Leavenworth, Kansas, with their two German Shorthaired Pointers, Maggie and Gunner. He is an avid hunter (mostly bowhunting for whitetail deer) and a passionate wildlife conservationist. He volunteers for the local Ducks Unlimited Chapter, as well as the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation. He films all of his hunts as a hobby and several have appeared on outdoor TV channels. He also films a show called Working Class Whitetails.
