Bronze Star: 24 year-old, Ryan Baumann's heroism saved buddies
Grandfather: Miami Township resident
by David Miller
LOVELAND, OHIO - Eighty-one year-old, Ed Baumann of Miami Township, probably knows what he's talking about – he, and his seven brothers all served in the military during WWII. He said that for the first time in history, except for “dead presidents or heads of state” the highway leading to Arlington National Cemetery was closed to let through a funeral procession, The occasion was the military honor ceremony, laying to rest his grandson, Army SGT Ryan Patrick Baumann.
Ryan, was born in Loveland Ohio on September 17, 1983, and lived on Wall Street until he was five-years-old when his family moved to Germany, where he attended American, German, and International schools and excelled in both baseball and soccer. He was killed in action on August 1, while serving our country in Afghanistan. Baumann's actions, while costing his own life, are credited with saving the lives of his three Army “brothers” who were also in the Humvee that struck a roadside bomb.
On August 12, thousands of people, from very young too very old, lined the 17-mile route from Great Mills, Maryland to the national cemetery, waving flags, saluting, or holding signs that said, “SGT Baumann – God Bless” and “Thank you.” Ed Baumann said that even some on the other side of the divided highway stopped their cars, got out, and stood with their “hands over their hearts.” When asked why they chose to close the highway for Ryan, his grandfather said matter-of-factly, “Because he's a hero.”
Ed Baumann said Ryan loved photography, riding bicycles with his dad, and cars. “He played with automobiles, picked this one up, picked that one up, and he'd dress them up.” One news report says that Ryan had a “supercharged Volvo.” Ed Baumann said he got to see Ryan often as he would travel from Ft. Campbell, Kentucky, where he was stationed, through Ohio, to Indiana, and to Maryland where he lived. He would spend weekends in Loveland at his grandfather's house, and often rode the Loveland Bike Trail, “sometimes, from one end to the other and back.” He developed his interest in photography while at Great Mills High School, won awards from the school board, and took photos for a walking guide to St. Mary's County, in Maryland. He also played, and refereed soccer.
His grandfather said, “He was a darn good kid. He really loved photography, but he was Army for life.”
Ed Baumann said that his grandson was sitting in the front, passenger seat of the lead vehicle in a convoy on Route Alaska. His crew was returning from a nighttime patrol when Ryan spo
tted that the road ahead was “tore up.” Ryan alerted the driver, “But, you can't stop a Humvee very quick going down a mountain road,” said Ed Baumann. The roadway was also very narrow, and there was no where to go to completely avoid the roadside bomb, so Ryan “told the driver to veer left, leaving himself to take the brunt of the explosion.” Two of Ryan's buddies were injured, but survived the blast. One news report said that Baumann jerked the steering wheel from the driver, turning the Humvee towards himself.
Baumann crew was assigned near the border of Pakistan in a tribal region of Afghanistan. Two weeks before Ryan died, he was involved in another explosion when the engine and tires were blown off their Humvee. Ryan suffered a minor back injury, and was temporarily assigned to a guard post, however, he convinced his superiors to let him quickly return to action.
Baumann was a motor transport operator with the 101st Airborne Division out of Fort Campbell, Kentucky, specifically with the 4th Battalion of the 320th Field Artillery Regiment’s 4th Brigade.
After high school graduation, Baumann started dating his fiancée, Lauren Smith, who is also a graduate of Great Mills High School. Baumann enlisted in the Army in 2004 and served a 12-month tour in Iraq prior to this year's deployment to Afghanistan. Baumann and Smith were planning on getting married on January 10, 2009, after his current tour of duty would bring him home.
The Arlington National Cemetery web site quotes Smith as saying, “He was a hero and anything he did; he did it right. If he didn't get it right the first time, he would go back and do it again, and he loved this country and he loved what he was doing and he was proud of it. And I want people to understand that." Smith said Baumann was a soldier who “never questioned his purpose.”
Justin Merriman, a photojournalist from Pittsburgh, took many photos of Baumann in Afghanistan for the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Baumann was featured in a Tribune story while Merriman was assigned to cover the war. He told Loveland Magazine, “I am so happy that I had the chance to meet Ryan. He was a great man and soldier.” He said on his web site, “I'm overwhelmed at the emails I've received from Sgt. Ryan Baumann's friends, family members, and fellow soldiers. There are to many to mention but each one deeply touches me and humbles me. I wanted to share some more photos I took of Ryan while I was with his platoon in Afghanistan. He truly was a consummate soldier and American.” You can view the photos and read more about Baumann here and here. Merriman, and the Tribune-Review graciously allowed Loveland Magazine to re-print some of the photos for this story.
At these links, you can also read heartbreaking posts from Baumann's family and childhood friends.
Ed Baumann said that Ryan proposed to 20 year-old, Lauren Smith in the Smokey Mountains in Tennessee. “He wanted it to be a surprise.” Ryan and Smith spent a lot of time outdoors hiking.
Merriman also has an interview with Ryan's fiancée on his web site that you can listen to while looking at photos of the funeral service and burial at Arlington. In the interview, Lauren Smith said, “Ryan was always the quiet, shy person in the corner that everybody notices. Ryan was not very vocal, but he showed you how he felt through his actions. He liked helping the people over there.”
“I don't feel alone, I feel like he is still with me, but I feel so lost now – it's like life has stopped. In December of '06, he told me that during his darkest moments in Iraq, he thinks about our (upcoming) wedding day. I just wish I could have told him I loved him - just one more time.”
On August 11, Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley ordered the U.S. and Maryland flags flown at half-staff from sunrise to sunset in memory of Sgt. Baumann.
Ryan's awards and decorations include: Meritorious Service Medal; Army Commendation Medal; Army Achievement Medal (2 awards); National Defense Service Medal; Iraq Campaign Medal; Global War on Terrorism Service Medal; Army Service Ribbon; Overseas Ribbon; Air Assault Badge; Driver and Mechanic Badge with Driver-Wheeled Vehicles and Weapons Qualification, M4, expert.
During the funeral service, Baumann received a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star.
Ryan is survived by his mother, Cindy and step father Gary Lohman of Great Mills, MD, his father, Robert Baumann of Jeffersonville, IN, his sister, Christina Baumann of Mesa, AZ and his fiancée Lauren Smith of St. Mary's City, MD. He is also survived by his grandfathers, John Boggs of Dayton, OH, and Edward Baumann of Miami Township.
A “Life Celebration” for Sgt. Ryan's was held Sunday, August 10, at Brinsfield Funeral Home in Leonardtown, MD. Prayers were recited and the funeral service was conducted by the Rev. Msgr. Maurice O'Connell on Monday, August 11 in the funeral home chapel. Burial was in Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, VA, with full military honors.
Memorial contributions can be sent to the 506th Airborne Infantry Regiment Association Widows, Orphans, and wounded soldiers fund, Hoyt Bruce, Treasurer 4126 Cole Way San Diego, CA 92117.
LOVELAND, OHIO - The Hamilton County Department of Environmental Services has issued a SMOG ALERT for the Southwest Ohio region including Loveland, for Monday and Tuesday.
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