November 9, 2004, Second Battle of Fallujah. A Marine was hit by enemy sniper fire and went down in the open.
Gunnery Sgt. Ryan P. Shane had been an infantryman since he was 18, and when he saw his brother fall, there was only one decision to make. He sprinted into the kill zone, rounds sparking off the pavement around him as he ran straight toward the downed Marine.
Shane grabbed him by the collar and started dragging him toward cover, while the sniper kept firing. Then Shane went down too.
The radio erupted with calls of “men down.” The Marines unleashed everything they had on the sniper’s position and rushed out to pull both men to safety. Shane was severely wounded but survived.
Lonny, the Marine Shane had run out to save, did not make it, despite everything his brother did for him.
The moment was captured in a series of photographs that day. Images that show what it means to put your brother before yourself, even when you know the cost. Shane’s actions showed the courage that defined every Marine who fought in Fallujah. Men who placed their brothers above everything, including their own lives.
Uncommon valor was a very common virtue in Fallujah.
A brotherhood that no one else could ever understand.
Frequently Asked Questions About Gunnery Sgt. Ryan P. Shane
Who was Gunnery Sgt. Ryan P. Shane?
A United States Marine, platoon gunnery sergeant with Company B, 1st Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, part of Regimental Combat Team 7 during the Second Battle of Fallujah.
What happened to Ryan Shane in Fallujah?
On 9 November 2004, the morning after Marines entered the city, his unit reached a major intersection in the northern sector. Sgt. Lonny Wells was hit in the open while crossing. Shane left his rifle behind so it would not slow him, ran out to reach Wells, and was shot in the stomach partway back.
Did Ryan Shane survive?
Yes. He was critically wounded and underwent a long series of operations. He lost around 70 pounds and was eventually discharged from the Marine Corps on medical grounds.
Who was the Marine he tried to rescue?
Sgt. Lonny D. Wells, 29, from Vandergrift, Pennsylvania. He did not survive his wounds.
When and where exactly did this happen?
9 November 2004, at an intersection on Highway 10 in northern Fallujah, during Operation Al Fajr, also known as Operation Phantom Fury.
Who took the photographs?
A Marine combat cameraman captured the sequence in four frames. The images ran in Leatherneck Magazine a month later under the headline "Uncommon Valor" and went on to win the Department of Defense Thomas Jefferson Award for photojournalism.
Was Ryan Shane decorated for his actions?
Yes. He received his decoration at a ceremony at Camp Lejeune roughly two years after the battle, with veterans of Fallujah present.
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