Combat Story (Ep 40): Ryan Hendrickson [Part 2] Green Beret | SF 18C | Silver Star | Author
![Combat Story (Ep 40): Ryan Hendrickson [Part 2] Green Beret | SF 18C | Silver Star | Author](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fimg.youtube.com%2Fvi%2FbTRi7YhEOP8%2Fmaxresdefault.jpg&w=3840&q=75)
About This Episode
Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more.
Today we complete Part 2 of the Combat Story of Ryan Hendrickson, the former Green Beret and Special Forces Engineer (18C) who served multiple combat deployments to Afghanistan and training deployments around the world, particularly in South America, as part of 7th Special Forces Group.
For those who listened to Part 1, you’ll recall that we followed Ryan’s unique upbringing in the Northwest that included moving frequently and, at one point, living in a tent for an entire year being raised by a single father who had a tremendous impact on Ryan’s life.
Ryan first joined the Navy, where he was onboard the first ship to respond to the USS Cole attack, then served in the Air Force loading aircraft with munitions, and finally achieved his dream of earning the coveted Green Beret.
On his first deployment to Afghanistan with 7th Group, Ryan was leading a patrol clearing the path of IEDs and inadvertently stepped on an IED that changed his life. At the end of Part 1, we left off as Ryan was coming to after the dust settled from the blast and he looked down to see two pearl white bones (his Tibia and Fibula) sticking out of his leg.
What happens next is nothing short of remarkable. If you ever felt sorry for yourself, this next session will help give perspective and an example of someone else who overcame tremendous odds to follow his dream, saving lives and inspiring others along the way.
Enjoy!
Website Tip of the Spear https://ryanmhendrickson.com/ Instagram @tipofthespearrmh https://www.instagram.com/tipofthespearrmh/ Facebook Ryan Hendrickson(Rmh) https://www.facebook.com/ryan.hendrickson.1238 LinkedIN Ryan Hendrickson https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-hendrickson-a5a703150/ Book Tip of the Spear https://tinyurl.com/4ssh5z42
Follow on Instagram @combat_stories (https://www.instagram.com/combat_stories/) Email ryan@combatstory.com Learn more about Ryan www.combatstory.com/aboutus Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle
Show Notes
Video edited by: Owen Fugit Host: Ryan Fugit Guest: Ryan Hendrickson
Author
Chapters
- 0:00Intro
- 0:45Guest Bio
- 1:45Interview begins
- 11:46Ryan is back in the moment just after the IED blast.
- 25:48The flight out of country and multiple hospital visits.
- 37:35The decision to keep your limb or go for a prosthetic.
- 44:18When Ryan started recognizing the emotional side of his injury.
- 49:20The advice the changed Ryan’s perspective and his path.
- 58:34The program to stay in the Army.
- 1:09:21Returning to Afghanistan and the unlikely welcome.
- 1:23:20Taking the opportunities given (and how to escape the TOC)!
- 1:39:50Inserting into a big fight looking like a normal unit.
- 1:46:54An F-15 500lb bomb being dropped nearby.
- 2:01:30Going back for every man, including his Afghan brothers.
- 2:06:45Didn’t have to go back, but you did. “Had to be done.”
- 2:12:00Writing the book.
- 2:15:00What did you carry with you into combat.
- 2:16:35Would you do it all again?
![Combat Story (Ep 37): Ryan Hendrickson [Part 1] Green Beret | SF 18C | Silver Star | Author](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fimg.youtube.com%2Fvi%2FW1HlY2Bu1sg%2Fmaxresdefault.jpg&w=3840&q=75)