Specialist Ryan R. Berg
U.S. Army 07/24/87-01/09/07 Sabine Pass, TX Sabine Pass High School Army Specialist Ryan Berg was an American soldier. When others his age were talking about going to college or working in the nearby refineries, Ryan went to the local Army recruiter's office on his 18th birthday and joined the United States Army, knowing America was at war in Iraq and Afghanistan. He wanted to make a difference by being an American soldier. Ryan Berg had spent his entire life in Sabine Pass, Texas, and he knew everybody in town. Ryan knew his calling after high school was to join the United States Army. He simply wanted to protect his country, like he had protected those he knew and loved all his life. He was deployed to Iraq on October 4, 2006, and he was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 12th Calvary Regiment, 3rd Brigade, Alpha Section, 3rd Platoon. Amazing people, these Americans who go to war. On January 4, 2007 with nearly a year to go in Iraq, the teenager returned to the battlefront to fight against these insurgents and their terror against the people of Iraq. Ryan was only in Iraq for 5 days when he was shot by a hidden enemy sniper. The wound was fatal. 19-year-old U.S. Army Specialist Ryan Berg became the first son of Sabine Pass, Texas, to be killed defending freedom in that land far, far away, of Iraq. For his courage during combat, Ryan was awarded the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star. Ryan's loved ones expressed their pride of his service to America and the bravery their soldier exhibited throughout his career. This Nation owes its gratitude, its liberties, its freedom, to people like Specialist Ryan Berg and to brave soldiers who have walked the path of sacrifice for the rest of us. So God bless Sabine Pass, Texas and God bless the Berg family and God Bless Ryan Berg.