SSG Ryan E. Haupt, U.S. Army
June 6, 1982 – October 17, 2006
Ryan spent his early years in Southern California, later splitting his time between North Hollywood and Madisonville, Tennessee. At 15, he moved to Phoenix, Arizona, where he completed high school. He was the second of four children—and the only son—and was known for his kindness and sense of humor, always finding ways to make others laugh. He enlisted in the U.S. Army when he was 17.
He began his Army career at Fort Benning, Georgia, where he completed basic training in 2000. Assigned to the “Silver Lions” of Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 68th Armor Regiment, 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division at Fort Carson, Colorado, Ryan served as an infantryman. He deployed to South Korea from 2002 to 2003 and later graduated from Sniper School. In November 2005, he was deployed to Iraq as a squad leader in the elite sniper section of his unit. Known for his upbeat attitude, Ryan especially valued humanitarian missions, where he and his fellow soldiers visited local schools, passed out supplies, and played soccer with Iraqi children. On October 17, 2006, Ryan was killed, along with two fellow soldiers, when an improvised explosive device struck their vehicle near Baqubah, Iraq.
Ryan’s legacy lives on through his wife, Nannette, his extended family, friends, and fellow soldiers.
