Sgt. Ryan H. Lane, 25, of Pittsburgh, Pa., died July 23, 2009, of wounds suffered while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to the 2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C. Lane joined the Marines in 2002 after graduating high school. He served two duties in Afghanistan and declined a promotion in order to be able to serve in Iraq with the Marines he trained. He received the Combat Action Ribbon, the Good Conduct Medal with bronze star, and the Afghanistan Campaign Medal. He posthumously received the Purple Heart and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with Distinguishing Device. He was survived by his wife, Valerie Muller Lane, his parents, Kathleen James Hanley and Harold C. Lane, his brothers, David, Mark, and Michael, and stepbrother, Bryan.

“He was like a little brother. Before I said something, he knew what I was going to say. We always saw eye to eye and our decisions on tactics were always the same…He was an outstanding Marine and really knew his knowledge,” said Gunnery Sgt Chris Keisler.

The Travis Manion Foundation provided a Challenge Grant to Marines: Nick Collier, Nathan Noble, Ross Graves, Matt Dixon, and Jordan Mazar, empowering them to hike the Appalachian Trail in honor of Sgt. Ryan Lane and other Fallen Heroes. Through the mental and physical challenge of the hike, the men honored the lives of the fallen and shared in the camaraderie of the Marine Corps.