'Walking Man of Murphys' to hit 6000 mile mark at July 4th parade

Hi everyone, first of all I want to thank all the people of the Mother Lode and all the people from around this great country who have supported me in my walking for Operation Mend. I started this journey back in Sept. 22 of 2008 for Operation Mend and I am amazed at the support I have received. Once again thank you for all your support. Can you believe this, here is one old Marine Vietnam Veteran walking for a cause to help our men and women of today serving and supporting this great country, and I have received checks from as far away the East Coast in support of Operation Mend. So I want to let everyone know that I was asked to walk in the 4th of July parade in Arnold which will be on Saturday July 5th because of my walking for Operation Mend and on that day while walking in the parade I will walk my 6000 mile. That will give me 1000 miles a year. I really never thought I would walk this far and I would not have if it wasn't for all people who have supported me. I can't stop now. Boots on the ground for our troops coming back from the war we are now in for these young men and women are the future of this great country. If anyone wants to see how great Operation Mend is and what they do with the donations they receive please go to Operation Mend .com. When you do you will see why I am so serious about their cause and how they help our troops who come back from the war.
God Bless America                    Ric            USMC      64 -68

Ric Ryan 'Walking Man of Murphys' honored along with all veterans at Big and Rich Concert

US Marine and Vietnam Veteran known as The Walking Man of Murphys was honored by Big & Rich, at the August 10, 2013 Ironstone concert, for his service and philanthropy work for Operation Mend.

"Last Saturday I was honored at the Big and Rich concert in Murphys. They called me up to the stage and honored all vets there and because I live in Murphys they had me with them on the stage. They told the everyone there that I served in the Vietnam and did two tours which they got wrong because I said I was there in 66 and 67. I did one tour then and it was for 13 months and 15 days but that is okay they just misunderstood me. They told everyone that I have walked 5163 miles to raise money for Operation Mend who helps returning veterans that did help. When I came out on the stage they said here is our local veteran Sgt Ric Ryan of the United States Marine Corps and everybody stood and cheered.
If you have the time please click on the you tube site at the bottom and watch.  I had tears in my eyes because I was so proud of being a Marine.
Thank you all and please keep supporting our veterans for they are the future of this great country
Ric Ryan        USMC     64-68
PS I plan on start walking again in two weeks by then I should be able to get 6 to 10 miles a day. I have been off from because I just had a total right knee replacement at the VA hospital. "

To view youtube video shot by Ric's daughter CLICK HERE

For previous 2012 article on Ric Ryan and his efforts CLICK HERE

Walking man of Murphys on the mend

On July 11, 2013 Ric Ryan - aka the Walking Man of Murphys- received a new right knee at the VA hospital. Though this will hinder his walking ability for up to eight weeks he plans on hitting the road to walk for vets and Operation Mend as soon as the doctors will allow it.

"I can not drive for six weeks and they tell me I won't be able to walk my 6 to 10 miles every day for about two months. That will be hard for me but I guess that just has to be. I will start walking around the house to get it all back and I think I will be walking my walk sooner then they think, we'll see.I WILL NEVER QUIT WALKING FOR THE VETS." Ric Ryan USMC 64-68

Letter from Ric Ryan "Walking Man of Murphys' - he will hit his 5000 mile mark for Operation Mend 4-20-13

I just want to thank everyone for their support in helping this old Marine from the Vietnam era also known  as The Walking Man Of Murphys. This Saturday the20th of April I will be starting my walk from the Tower  gas station around 8 in the morning and ending my walk around 10:30 . When I finish my walk Saturday I will go over 5000 miles of walking for Operation Mend .  For all young men and women in uniform who have fought for our great country and need medical help Operation Mend is always there for them.So I just want to say thank you for your waves and donations to help Operation Mend.
Thank you     Ric     USMC   64-68

Our 'Walking Man of Murphys' Ric Ryan - front page of the LA Times

A few weeks ago an LA Times reporter came to the foothills to interview Ric Ryan, aka the Walking Man of Murphys, and talk with him about his efforts to raise funds for wounded vets...click the following link for their story:
http://www.latimes.com/news/columnone/la-me-walking-man-20130326-dto,0,5823548.htmlstory

Christian Family Learning Center raises funds for wounded vets

On February 13, 2013 the 100 students at Christian Family Learning Center in Angels Camp donated a $1,500.00 check to Ric Ryan for Operation Mend.

The children had held a walk-a-thon last fall to raise money for an Christmas event at their school but chose at the time to donate any proceeds above and beyond the cost of the event to Ric Ryan - known as the Walking Man of Murphys - for Operation Mend. Many of the children at the school felt as if they knew Ric saying "I wave to him every day."

After the principle, Larry Smith, pinned the check to Ric's chest, the whole student body took a celebratory lap around the track with Ric. 

Ric Ryan still walking for Operation Mend

In the fall of 2010, what began as a desire to get out and to exercise and a dream to eventually see the Vietnam wall in Washington DC turned into a journey of a lifetime for Marine Vietnam Veteran Ric Ryan.

Realizing the clock was ticking on the possibility of actually seeing the Vietnam wall in his lifetime, Ric - with the aid of his son - developed a map with exact mileage to walk to the Wall. Once the map was complete Ric realized how massive the endeavor was he wished to undertake and that he could not possibly make that trek, so he settled with walking locally and tallying the miles until he reached the number required to make it to the wall.

Quickly people would recognize Ric as he walked and honk or wave. Ric took this as a sign and began to tally each wave. At the end of each walk he would deposit a quarter in a jar for each wave he received on his walk. Within a month or two he knew he needed to find a home for the funds he was raising and his first thought was to help veterans. After seeing a program on Operation Mend, a joint UCLA and Brown University program that rebuilds not only an injured veterans face and body but their spirit too, Ric knew he had found his match.

Update from Ric Ryan Walking Man of Murphys

Hi this is Ric Ryan "The walking man of Murphys". Once again I want to thank the great people of Calaveras County for your support in helping me raise money for our young men and women fighting in our wars. With your donations and the 25 cents a wave I put in we have now raised around $13000.00 and when I walk on this next Monday, October 8th I will have a little over 4200 miles walked in this small but great county. I can not thank the people of this county enough for helping me with this project. Being a Marine who spent 13 months in Vietnam in 66 and 67 I can tell you all I know this is something that must be done for our troops. Even if you do not agree with this war we MUST SUPPORT OUR TROOPS 100%. I will keep walking as long as I can for our troops and 100% of all money collected will go to Operation Mend for they are doing so much for our wounded troops. When Operation Mend helps our young men and women coming home from the war zone Operation Mend pays for everything. The troops pay NOTHING IT IS ALL FREE.
God Bless  Ric Ryan      USMC      64-68      

Vietnam Veteran walking to help wounded veterans receives thanks from Commandant of the USMC

On July 12, 2012 Vietnam Veteran Ric Ryan, known as the walking man of Murphys, received an email from General James F. Amos, Commandant of the United States Marine Corps thanking him for his work in supporting Operation Mend.

The email read:
"Hey Ric...Gen Jim Amos, Commandant here, just wanted you to know that you are motivating all of your fellow Marines back here in the Pentagon!!! Thanks for your continued fidelity to our wounded. God bless you.
If you ever get back to DC then let me know!!!"

To date Ric Ryan has raised $10,531 for Operation Mend.  'Operation Mend combines the best of the military's resources with the skills of UCLA Health System for a comprehensive and collaborative approach to healing United States military personnel wounded and disfigured in Iraq and Afghanistan.'

"I feel the more people that know about Operation Mend and the more news stations that know about what Operation Mend does, just maybe, we as a nation can help our service men and women live normal lives and get the best help there is and I feel Operation Mend is the best there is. The people that work at Operation Mend are wonderful and really do a wonders for our young men and women coming back from the wars we are now in."

USMC Ric Ryan continuing support of Operation Mend

Hi this is Ric the walking man of Murphys and I just want to give an 
update about the money collected for our troops. On Monday another check
 will be sent to Operation Mend for $150.00. I started walking in 2008 
and to date I have just under 4000 miles walked and have sent a little 
more than $10,000.00 to Operation Mend. The reason for this update is to
 thank the wonderful people of Calaveras County for your support. The 
donations and the waves show that this county is one of the best and the
 people here really do support the troops. Yesterday while in Arnold two
 cars stopped me and each of them gave me $20.00 for the troops. It sure
 made me feel good about this great county. I have received so many 
donations from people just driving by and the people who don't even know
 me but heard what I am doing for the troops  They have given me money 
for our young men and women fighting for the freedom we enjoy today. I 
believe it is important to support our troops even if you don't support 
the war. Please remember through the years and wars this great country 
has fought "ALL GAVE SOME AND SOME GAVE ALL." The people of Calaveras 
County are the Best. 100% OF ALL MONEY RECEIVED GO TO OPERATION MEND
Thank you  Ric   USMC 

Photo courtesy Operation Mend

Operation Mend wounded warrior threw out the opening ball at the July 4, 2012 LA Dodger game.