MANCHESTER, NH, USA U.S. Marines LCPL, C CO, 1ST BN, 6TH MAR, (1-1 AD, I MEF FWD), 2D MAR DIV, CAMP LEJEUNE, NC AR RAMADI, IRAQ 11/07/2006
Lance Corporal Ryan T. McCaughn was born in Jacksonville N.C., the home of Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune. He spent his early years in North Carolina and Missouri and ultimately settled in Manchester, New Hampshire. There he was raised by his mother Cote and his stepfather Raymond Bauclair Jr. Even as a child, friends said that McCaughn was clear in his military ambitions. Both of his parents were former servicemen; his mother served briefly in the U.S. Army and his father, Thomas McCaughn was a Marine. His older brother Chris served in the Air Force and his brother Sean Merlin served in the Navy.
When Ryan was 17 years old he asked his mother to help him sign up for the Marines. He had worked extra hard during his senior year at Central High School to complete all the necessary requirements. He left for boot camp at Parris Island one week after graduating in June 2005 and was then stationed in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. Ryan was deployed on September 10th as part of the 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Reg. to Ramadi, the southwestern point of the Sunni Triangle. His duties there included patrolling the region. He was killed on November 7, 2006 while conducting combat operations in the Al Anbar province in Iraq.
Ryan is survived by his family and remembered fondly for his sense of humor and serious commitment to the Marines and to his country. His creative writing teacher in high school shared a poem that Ryan had written entitled “Soldier.” “Many soldiers have had to experience the ultimate Sacrifice” McCaughn wrote, “Even in death, a soldier will show Pride. All you can do is hope that they finally found Peace.”