Joseph Ryan Giese

Lance Cpl. Joseph Ryan Giese, age 24, of Winder, Ga., died on January 7, 2011, while conducting combat operations in the Helmand province. He had stepped on on improvised explosive device. 

He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force.

He went by his second name - Ryan. 

In less than 30 days, Ryan Giese, was supposed to be on a plane back to his base at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina. His family was making travel plans to be there when he returned.  Growing up, Ryan told his father he wanted to be a marine just like his father was during the Vietnam War. When Ryan was 17, he asked his father to sign paperwork that would let him enlist. Larry Giese said no. When Ryan turned 18, he enlisted.

“I was very proud of him,” his father, Larry Giese said. “Very proud. It’s hard not to be.”

Next month, Ryan would have celebrated his one-year anniversary with his wife, Brittany, who lives in Georgia.

Let us pray to God the Father, Jesus, all of the saints and all of the angels that Joseph Ryan Giese is in Heaven. Let us pray that he is at peace and is with God. Amen