William Owens (Navy SEAL)

William Ryan Owens

William Ryan Owens
Born (1980-03-05)March 5, 1980
Peoria, Illinois, U.S.
Died January 29, 2017(2017-01-29) (aged 36)
Al Bayda Governorate, Yemen
Allegiance  United States
Service/branch  U.S. Navy
Years of service 1998–2017
Rank

Senior chief petty officer

(posthumously)
Unit

U.S. Navy SEALs

Battles/wars

War on Terror

Spouse(s) Carryn Owens
Relations William C. Owens
Patricia Ann (née Westefer) Treutle (Parents) Children: 3

William "Ryan" Owens (March 5, 1980 – January 29, 2017) was a decorated United States Navy SEAL senior chief petty officer. He died in the Yakla raid in Yemen.

Early life

William Ryan Owens was born March 5, 1980 in Peoria, Illinois.[1] He grew up in Fort Lauderdale, Florida and Chillicothe, Illinois, northeast of Peoria.[1][2] According to the Miami Herald, his parents worked at the Fort Lauderdale Police Department, where his father was a policeman and his mother was a detective.[2] Owens attended Illinois Valley Central High School, and graduated in 1998.[1]

Career

Owens joined the United States Navy on August 24, 1998.[1][3] He served in the Office of Naval Intelligence in Suitland, Maryland, and joined the Navy SEALs in 2002.[3] He was on five tours of duty during the course of his career as a Navy SEAL.[3] He became a chief petty officer in 2009,[3] and he was promoted to senior chief petty officer a week after his death.[4]

Owens was the recipient of two Bronze Star Medals, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Good Conduct Medal, the Joint Meritorious Unit Award, the Achievement Medal, the Commendation Medal, the Sea Service Ribbon, and three Presidential Unit Citations.[3][5]

Death

Owens died of wounds as a result of the Yakla raid, a U.S.-led Special Operations Forces attack in Al Bayda province in central Yemen,[6] a terrorism-related mission during the Yemeni Civil War, on January 29, 2017.[7][1][3][1] He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery[8]

Tributes and controversy

On hearing of his death, Rear Admiral Timothy Szymanski, Commander of Naval Special Warfare Command, called Owens "an exceptional SEAL—an experienced warrior and a highly respected teammate who served silently, nobly and bravely through several combat deployments." He went on to express that "Ryan's legacy strengthens our own resolve and commitment to this crucial fight. We hope his family can find comfort in the love and support of Family, Friends and Teammates."[1] President Donald Trump and daughter Ivanka Trump paid their respects on the arrival of Owens' remains at the Dover Air Force Base.[2][5] The President said, "My deepest thoughts and humblest prayers are with the family of this fallen service member."[1]

President Trump paid tribute to Owens during his address to a joint session of Congress on February 28, 2017, saying, "Ryan's legacy is etched into eternity."[9]

Owen's father, William Owens, who is a military veteran, refused to meet with President Trump and asked for an investigation into his son's death. He stated "I didn't want to make a scene about it, but my conscience wouldn't let me talk to him [Trump]."[10] He also criticized Trump for refusing to order an investigation saying "Don't hide behind my son's death to prevent an investigation."[10]

Ryan had become friends with San Francisco Giants pitcher Javier Lopez during a spring training visit. Javier Lopez described Ryan as "his counselor". His family collectively threw out the first pitch before the Giants 2017 home opener.

Personal life

Owens was married to Carryn Owens and they had three children together.[1][2]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Gregory, Ted (February 8, 2017). "Navy SEAL From Peoria Killed in Yemen Recalled for His Drive, Humor". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved February 8, 2017.
  2. 1 2 3 4 MH Staff (February 3, 2017). "Fort Lauderdale Police: SEAL Killed in Yemen was Son of Detective". Miami Herald. Retrieved February 8, 2017.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 MT Staff (January 29, 2017). "Chief Petty Officer William "Ryan" Owens". Military Times. Retrieved February 8, 2017 – via TheFallen.MilitaryTimes.com.
  4. ↑ Chief of Naval Personnel Public Affairs (February 2, 2017). "Posthumous Advancement for Navy SEAL". Navy.mil. Retrieved February 8, 2017.
  5. 1 2 Trib Staff (February 1, 2017). "Trump Makes Unannounced Trip to Honor Fallen Navy SEAL". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved February 8, 2017.
  6. ↑ Gal Perl Finkel, A NEW STRATEGY AGAINST ISIS, The Jerusalem Post, March 7, 2017.
  7. ↑ Schmitt, Eric & Sanger, David E. (February 1, 2017). "Questions Cloud U.S. Raid on Qaeda Branch in Yemen". The New York Times. Retrieved 2 February 2017.
  8. ↑ Mabeus, Courtney (2017-02-15). "Navy SEAL who died in Yemen to be buried at Arlington National Cemetery next week | Local Military". Pilotonline.com. Retrieved 2017-03-02.
  9. ↑ "'Ryan's legacy is etched into eternity': Trump lauds Navy SEAL killed in Yemen raid". Business Insider. 2016-03-31. Retrieved 2017-03-02.
  10. 1 2 "Father Of Navy SEAL Killed In Yemen Raid Has Harsh Words For Trump : The Two-Way". NPR.org. Retrieved 2017-03-02.
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