Fellow Soldier’s eulogy for
SGT Ryan J. Baum
Distinguished guests, fellow Paratroopers, friends and family,
What to say about the man that kept you alive and made it his mission to do just that. SGT Ryan John Baum was that guy, the guy that I spent the most time with, and the guy that was always my second right hand, located on my left side. Those of you that have ever been a Platoon Sergeant and or First Sergeant, knows that your medic is the person that you spend the most time with. I cannot tell you how many hours that Doc Baum and I have spent in trucks, hide sights, on picket lines, and setting in the over watches with our scopes and rifles ready, watching the platoons work and daring anyone to mess with our boys. There is nothing that he didn’t know about me, and I can guess that there is not much that I do not know about him. Doc was the ultimate paratrooper and medic; he was also a damn good spotter, security man, trigger man, and a great friend. Every time I sat in the hide sight, there was Doc on my left side making sure no one messed with me, any time my Truck rolled out, Doc was in the TC seat making sure the driver was on track, and any time I was walking thru the battle field, there was Doc, on my left side. I always knew that I could look to my left and there would be Doc making sure that I came back from the mission in one piece and alive. During the planning process for missions, the question of where is First Sergeant going to be located was never asked, it was always, “Where is First Sergeant and Doc going to be?” Doc watched damn near every bullet, that I fired in anger impact. And if it didn’t impact where we wanted with the desired result, he always gave an adjustment and a smart comment about my shooting ability.
On the fateful day of 18 May, Doc died doing what Doc did, in making sure that I came back from that mission. I can vouch that the reason that I am here today is a direct result of Doc keeping me alive, and though I wish he hadn‘t, he sacrificed everything doing that. In that, I will always be grateful and Doc will always be part of my life. The other medics that were on the scene did everything they could, to keep him with us. Everything that Doc had taught them and drilled in to them was put to use. But no matter how you look at it, it hurts the heart when you look at your Ranger buddy lying in front of you.
I cannot tell you for sure what Mr. and Mrs. Baum is feeling right now, but I can only guess as Doc was like a son to me also. I can tell you this, Mr. and Mrs. Buam, you guys cracked the code on raising a son and making him a great man that loved his family and talked about them all the time. Though he talked about his family, it was his wife and soon to be Rangeret that he held dearest to his heart.
To Amber, I wish so much that things could have happened some other way and that I could go back in time and change everything. There is not a night that goes by that I don’t think and wonder, what was the reason for Doc to go that day. But I can assure you that Ryan loved you more than anything else in this world.
To Leia, if you get to see this when you are older, your father was the best person that I have ever had the privilege to meet and know, and he is definitely a hero. He and I talked about you all the time, even though all we had seen of you was a sonogram. He asked a lot of questions about raising girls as I have two. Your Daddy did more than most anyone could ever do in his lifetime and wanted nothing but the best for you. As you grow up, you just remember that your Daddy is watching everything that you do, and is right there in your heart.
Last, if you are watching this ceremony, and I bet you are, thanks Doc, and I wish there was some way that I could tell you how grateful I am and how much you are missed, not only by me, but by everyone that knew you. The hardest last roll call that I have ever had to make was calling your name with no answer. Every time that I hear your name, I still look to my left where you were always there. Take care my brother, and keep AJ-ing for the big Jump Master in the sky, till I link back up with you.
1SG Thomas E. Campbell
