In news released by the Defense Department on Monday, U.S. Navy SEAL William “Ryan” Owens was killed on Saturday due to injuries sustained during a raid in Yemen.
The 36-year-old from Peoria, Illinois was a Chief Special Warfare Operator for Navy SEAL Team 6, the team that killed Osama Bin Laden in 2011.
Chief Special Warfare Operator William “Ryan” Owens Photo: US Navy
According to San Francisco Giants’ catcher Buster Posey, Owens was a huge fan of the team. Posey posted this on Instagram after he learned of the news.
Sadly, Javier Lopez relayed the news to me today that Ryan Owens had been killed in Yemen while serving our country. Ryan was a member of SEAL Team 6 and a big Giants fan. He would come to spring training frequently and I had the honor of meeting him and his son in 2012. For me, it is easy to take for granted the life that my family and I get to live everyday. Words don’t do justice for the gratitude that I have for people like Ryan that sacrifice their lives fighting against evil, so that we may live with freedom. Unfortunately for Ryan’s family, they lost a husband and a father this weekend. I can’t imagine the pain they must be going through. Please keep his family in your thoughts and prayers. Ryan Owens was a hero that is gone way too soon.”
Owens joined the Navy in 1998 and earned two bronze stars with a combat “V” for valor.
