Patrick J. Ryan (January 1, 1931 – February 13, 2013) was a United States Marine Corps lieutenant colonel, intelligence officer, lawyer, and author. A career Marine officer, he served in reconnaissance and special operations units, including the 1st Force Reconnaissance Company, and later became known for his military service in Chile during the period surrounding the 1973 Chilean coup d'état. After retiring from the Marine Corps, he became an attorney and served for more than two decades as honorary Chilean consul in San Diego.
Early life and education
Ryan was born on January 1, 1931, in North Arlington, New Jersey. He attended College of the Holy Cross on a football scholarship, graduating with a degree in economics in 1953. During his early years, he was a successful athlete and briefly pursued a professional football career before returning to military service.
Military career
Ryan joined the United States Marine Corps in 1953. He later attended Officer Candidates School and received a commission as a second lieutenant. After a brief period in the Marine Corps Reserve, he signed as a free agent with the Green Bay Packers and was later traded to the New York Giants. He eventually decided to leave professional football and continue his career as a Marine officer, where he was an early pioneer in the Marine Corps reconnaissance field and also developed the skills of being a parachtist and Scuba diver. In 1969 he graduated from the Armed Forces Staff College in 1969.
Despite having limited vision in one eye, Ryan continued his military career and became involved in reconnaissance and special operations, serving in varied assignments as a commanding officer. He served in Korea, Vietnam, and South America. His military decorations included the Bronze Star Medal, the Joint Service Commendation Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, and the Legion of Merit.
Service in Chile
During his assignment as deputy chief of the United States Military Group in Chile (December 1972 - April 1976), Ryan was stationed in the country during the political crisis that culminated in the overthrow of President Salvador Allende on September 11, 1973. According to accounts of his military career, he received the Legion of Merit for his service in that position.
Ryan later became associated with discussions regarding United States activities in Chile before the coup. In accounts related to the death of American journalist Charles Horman, Ryan was identified as one of the United States military officials whom Horman and journalist Terri Simon encountered while seeking information about the political situation after the military takeover. These events later became the subject of Thomas Hauser's book The Execution of Charles Horman: An American Sacrifice and the film Missing directed by Costa-Gavras. He is described as "a bloodthirsty anticommunist" after failures in Vietnam.
General Carlos Prats mentions Ryan in an interview with the The Times of London:
Ryan replied:
Ryan's own interpretation of Chile's political crisis was presented in his book Allende's Chile: 1000 Bungled Days, published in 1976. The work criticized Salvador Allende's government and argued that its policies contributed to Chile's political and economic instability as well as rejecting the Kennedy Amendment, stating:
Later life
After retiring from active military service in 1982 with the rank of lieutenant colonel, Ryan continued his studies and obtained degrees in international relations and law. He worked as a criminal defense attorney in California from 1987 until 2006.
Ryan also maintained close relations with Chile, serving as honorary consul of Chile in San Diego for more than twenty years. He was involved in veterans' organizations and founded the Force Recon Association, an organization dedicated to former and active reconnaissance Marines.
Death
Patrick J. Ryan died on February 13, 2013, in Oceanside, California, at the age of 82. He was survived by his wife Terry Ryan, his children, grandchildren, and brother Rory Ryan. His funeral was held at St. Elizabeth Seton Catholic Church in Carlsbad, California, and burial was planned at Arlington National Cemetery.
Publications
Allende's Chile: 1000 Bungled Days, American Chilean Council, New York, 1976, 21 pages. El Chile de Allende y los Mil Días Perdidos, 1976.
References