Ryan P. Green dies of injuries from I.E.D.

CONROE — The day after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, Ryan P. Green immediately took a stand to protect his country.

He enlisted in the U.S. Army. But before he signed the papers, he sought his mother's approval.

"Not because he was too young to join, but because he wanted to make sure that I was OK with that," his mother, Lynda Kagan, said in a written statement. "What he didn't know was that when I heard about 9/11 I knew that that was exactly what he was going to do."

Sgt. Green, who was on his second tour in Iraq, died on Sunday in Landstuhl, Germany, three days after he was wounded by an explosive device that detonated near his unit while he was on combat patrol in Baghdad, military officials said Tuesday.

Green, 24, assigned to the 1st Cavalry Division in Fort Hood, had always been patriotic, his parents said.

"God, country and family. Those are the three words we instilled in him," said his stepfather, Craig Kagan, who also served in the Army. "He believed so much in our country."

Green, of Conroe, displayed his pride with the word Freedom tattooed across his back, shoulder to shoulder. He also had a page on MySpace.com, where he called himself Patriot 29.

Green, who became a sergeant last year, lost part of his right leg in the explosion, Craig Kagan said in an interview. Another soldier managed to stop the bleeding, but when Green reached the hospital, doctors had to amputate his leg at the knee, Kagan said.

Green was later transported to a hospital in northern Iraq where doctors removed shrapnel from his body and performed more surgeries. Green needed additional treatment at a hospital in Germany, but he died en route by plane.

Green quickly rose in military rank because he led by example and always took the hard way, Craig Kagan said. Green was scheduled for another promotion in May, he said.

"He was very mature for his age," he said. "He didn't do stupid things."

Lynda Kagan said she never regretted her son's decision to join the Army. "The Army made my already terrific son a better son," she said.

Green attended New Caney High School and received his general equivalency diploma.

He was involved in church and considered attending a ministry college, Craig Kagan said.

He enjoyed singing and dancing, his family said.

He also had a way with people that made them feel comfortable, his mother said.

Green proposed to his fiancée, Cassie Keating, in October. They planned to wed in November when he returned.

"My fiancé, Sgt. Ryan Patrick Green, is and always will be my hero," Keating said.

The last time Green communicated with his family was March 13 via instant messaging. He was upbeat and positive about his mission in Baghdad, his stepfather said.

"He was proud to be there," he said.

Green is the second soldier from Montgomery County to die this month. Cory Kosters, 19, of The Woodlands, died in Iraq on March 5.

From the Chronicle