SO2 Ryan Job.

Former United States Navy SEAL Ryan Job died in the early morning hours of Thursday, September 24, 2009 following reconstructive surgery to repair injuries he had received in combat in 2006 that had left him blind. His death was unexpected, especially in light of the fight for survival he had already waged.

Ryan Job was a USN SEAL until he was medically discharged following being wounded in action on August 2, 2006. He was on a rooftop in Ramadi, Iraq when a sniper’s bullet hit his rifle and the shattered pieces of the bullet struck his face. His eyes were damaged, leaving him completely blind. The courage, determination and strength of character that it takes to become a Navy SEAL proved to be the same characteristics that Ryan used to literally soar to new heights following his devastating injuries.

Following his injuries in Iraq, Job received medical treatment in military hospitals in Maryland, Florida and Palo Alto, California. He then went about recuperating his life. His mother said he was determined not to be a ‘disabled guy’ and from all appearances, he succeeded in living the rest of his life to the fullest. After his injury he worked for General Dynamics in Arizona and completed his degree at Jones International University with a 4.0 average. He became a spokesman for Sentinels for Freedom, an organization that helps wounded veterans transition to civilian life. And he pushed himself physically and emotionally. He and two other wounded veterans climbed to the summit of Mount Rainier in Washington State in June 2008, no small feat for men who were blinded and left without limbs following their service to our country.

Last Wednesday, Job underwent eight hours of surgery at to rebuild his face and repair his eye socket at Maricopa Medical Center in Phoenix, Arizona. He was found unresponsive in his hospital room during the night following the surgery. A cause of death has not been determined.

Job was 28-years-old. He is survived by his wife, Kelly Job who is pregnant with their first child. The child is expected to be delivered in May 2009. He is also survived by his parents, Eric and Debbie Job, his brother Aaron Job, his sister, Kelsie Job and his grandmother, Barbara McCormick.

Funeral services will be held at the Scottsdale Bible Church in Scottsdale, Arizona on Thursday, October 1, 2009 at 6:00 pm. The family request that in lieu of flowers, that memorials be sent to Camp Patriot (www.camppatriot.org), Sentinels of Freedom (www.sentinelsoffreedom.org) or the Naval Special Warfare Foundation (www.nswfoundation.org).