Their Story
Remembering Ryan Casey McGhee.
Ryan C. McGhee, who was born in Pennsylvania, lived the majority of his life in Vermont. He was on his fourth tour of duty — his first three were in Afghanistan and his latest was in Iraq.
“I lost my soul mate. I don’t know what else to say. He was my one and only, so it’s been difficult for all of us,” said Ashleigh Mitchell, his fiancée.
McGhee, 21, of Fredericksburg, Va., died May 13 of wounds suffered during a firefight with enemy forces in central Iraq. He was a 2006 high school graduate and was assigned to Fort Benning, Ga.
“He was an all-around great person and he loved what he did,” said McGhee’s brother, Zachary. “I talked to him two weeks ago. He called to wish me a happy birthday. He said he loved me and he missed me.”
He was chosen by his classmates for two senior superlatives — friendliest and most charming.
“He always had a lot of friends,” classmate Tim Putnam said.
He had planned on returning to Vermont this year, to introduce his Virginian fiancée to his childhood friends.
He also is survived by his father, Steven; stepmother, Kristie; and his mother, Sherrie Battle-McGhee.