Mark Lee Greenblatt

Author of Valor

  • home
  • book
  • Heroes
  • Bio
  • news & reviews
  • Blog
  • email a hero
Taylor Trade Publishing
224 pages
$22.95
ISBN: 978-1589799523

Now Available

Amazon
Barnes & Noble
IndieBound
Books-A-Million
Taylor Trade Publishing

Ryan Welch

Ryan next to an Apache helicopter prior to a mission near Shindand Air Base, Regional Command-West, Afghanistan, in June 2011.  He is standing next to the avionics bay, the small shelf running down the exterior of the helicopter, where he sat during the evacuation of two injured pilots from hostile territory on October 16, 2004.  Photo courtesy of Ryan Welch. 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.


Ryan, seated in the rear seat of an Apache, with Cole Moughon.  On the night of the rescue, Welch’s co-pilot Justin Taylor (who also received a Distinguished Flying Cross for his actions during that rescue) was seated in the rear seat, and Welch hoisted one of the injured pilots into the front seat of the Apache.  Photo courtesy of Ryan Welch.Ryan’s view from the rear seat of an Apache helicopter as he conducted a routine patrol in Iraq.  Photo courtesy of Ryan Welch.

Copyright © 2019 Mark Lee Greenblatt
Terms of Service & Privacy Policy | Data Access Request