Army Spc. Baker was assigned to 4th Battalion, 101st Aviation Regiment, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Kentucky. Baker died when a pair of Black Hawk helicopters collided in mid-air over a residential suburb in Mosul, Iraq. It appears that one of the aircraft was hit on the tail wing by a rocket-propelled grenade. Ryan was in the JROTC program at Pemberton Township High School in New Jersey and joined the Army upon graduating in 1997. After basic training, he was selected to become a Screaming Eagle in the 101st Airborne Div. He called his grandmother to say, "Gram, I'm going to be a Screaming Eagle. It's an honor to be one of them, Gram." He was sent to Iraq almost as soon as the war began. He was so passionate about the helicopters he served on as crew chief and gunner that he could take them apart and put them together again. As a crew chief, he was often responsible for transporting special-ops soldiers out into the countryside of Iraq to conduct dangerous, clandestine missions. Ryan was on the re-con mission that took out Saddam Hussein's sons, Uday and Qusay. Tragically, his father, Dane Baker, passed away in early October while Ryan was deep in Iraq unable to come home. He was finally granted a 10-day leave in late October, and returned to Browns Mills. He was nearing his end of duty, but most likely would have re-enlisted. Ryan was just a regular, great guy who loved the Birds (the Eagles football team). He is survived by a two-year-old son who lives in Tennessee.
Army Spc. Baker was assigned to 4th Battalion, 101st Aviation Regiment, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Kentucky. Baker died when a pair of Black Hawk helicopters collided in mid-air over a residential suburb in Mosul, Iraq. It appears that one of the aircraft was hit on the tail wing by a rocket-propelled grenade. Ryan was in the JROTC program at Pemberton Township High School in New Jersey and joined the Army upon graduating in 1997. After basic training, he was selected to become a Screaming Eagle in the 101st Airborne Div. He called his grandmother to say, "Gram, I'm going to be a Screaming Eagle. It's an honor to be one of them, Gram." He was sent to Iraq almost as soon as the war began. He was so passionate about the helicopters he served on as crew chief and gunner that he could take them apart and put them together again. As a crew chief, he was often responsible for transporting special-ops soldiers out into the countryside of Iraq to conduct dangerous, clandestine missions. Ryan was on the re-con mission that took out Saddam Hussein's sons, Uday and Qusay. Tragically, his father, Dane Baker, passed away in early October while Ryan was deep in Iraq unable to come home. He was finally granted a 10-day leave in late October, and returned to Browns Mills. He was nearing his end of duty, but most likely would have re-enlisted. Ryan was just a regular, great guy who loved the Birds (the Eagles football team). He is survived by a two-year-old son who lives in Tennessee.
Bio by: Brenda N
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