Donald Ryan McGlothlin
First Lieutenant, U.S. Marine Corps

Donald Ryan McGlothlin graduated as valedictorian of the Class of 1997 at Lebanon High School in Lebanon, VA. At the College of William & Mary in the Class of 2001, Ryan maintained a 3.97 grade point average while earning a B.S. in Chemistry, for which he was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa and awarded the William Guy Chemistry Award as the outstanding chemistry student. Upon completing his studies at William & Mary, Ryan accepted a doctoral research fellowship at Stanford University and, in two years, completed his Master's degree in Polymer Chemistry.

Following the completion of his master's degree, Ryan entered Officer's Candidate School at Quantico, VA, in October 2003. He was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps on 12 December 2003, and entered The Basic School, a rigorous 6-month training program unique to the Marine Corps. On 8 July 2004 he was the honor graduate of his class at TBS. Ryan was then stationed with the 1st Marine Division at Camp Pendleton in Southern California as a platoon commander.

On 16 November 2005, then-Second Lieutenant Donald Ryan McGlothlin was serving as Rifle Platoon Commander, Second Platoon, Company F, Battalion Landing Team 2/1, Thirteenth Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable), Regimental Combat Team TWO, Second Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward) while deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

On that day, in New Ubaydi, Iraq, during Operation Steel Curtain, 2ndLt McGlothlin’s platoon was engaged by 21 enemy personnel. The enemy delivered frontal and flanking automatic fire from 4 well-fortified, mutually supporting positions. Upon enemy contact, 2ndLt McGlothlin boldly maneuvered an attached tank section forward to support his platoon. Learning that the forward squad had sustained heavy casualties and while ignoring his own safety, 2ndLt McGlothlin maneuvered through the insurgents' strongpoint and immediately engaged the insurgents to secure and recover his embattled Marines. Six enemy personnel had the hallway and interior rooms of the building covered with automatic weapons fire and threw grenades from recessed firing ports within the walls. While his last Marine was being evacuated from the building, 2ndLt McGlothlin shielded the recovery effort from grenade blasts and commenced a fierce exchange of small arms fire with the enemy until he was mortally wounded. 2ndLt McGlothlin's valiant, selfless actions saved the lives of 2 Marines and were critical in the company eliminating 18 insurgents in an intense firefight. 2ndLt McGlothlin’s bold leadership and courageous actions that day earned him, at the cost of his life, the U.S. Marine Corps' third highest award for valor, the Silver Star Medal.

Medals and Awards

Silver Star Medal
Purple Heart
Navy & Marine Corps Combat Action Ribbon
National Defense Service Medal
Iraq Campaign Medal with Bronze Star
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal

Silver Star Medal Citation

The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Second Lieutenant Donald Ryan McGlothlin, United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against the enemy while serving as Rifle Platoon Commander, Second Platoon, Company F, Battalion Landing Team 2/1, Thirteenth Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable), Regimental Combat Team TWO, SECOND Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward), in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM in New Ubaydi, Iraq, on 16 November 2005. During Operation STEEL CURTAIN, Second Lieutenant McGlothlin's platoon was engaged by 21 enemy personnel. The enemy delivered frontal and flanking automatic fire from four well-fortified, mutually supporting positions. Upon enemy contact, he boldly maneuvered an attached tank section forward to support his platoon. Learning that the forward squad had sustained heavy casualties and with complete disregard for his own safety, Second Lieutenant McGlothlin maneuvered through the insurgents' strongpoint and immediately engaged the insurgents to secure and recover his embattled Marines. Six enemy personnel had the hallway and interior rooms of the building covered with automatic weapons fire and threw grenades from recessed firing ports within the walls. While his last Marine was being evacuated from the building, Second Lieutenant McGlothlin shielded the recovery effort from grenade blasts and commenced a fierce exchange of small arms fire with the enemy until he was mortally wounded. His valiant and selfless actions saved the lives of two Marines and were critical in the company eliminating 18 insurgents in an intense firefight. By his bold leadership, selfless act of bravery, and complete dedication to duty, Second Lieutenant McGlothlin reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.

Honors

On 17 May 2012 Colonel Julian D. Alford, Commanding Officer, The Basic School, Marine Corps Base Quantico, Va., named a new TBS barracks "McGlothlin Hall" in honor of First Lieutenant Donald Ryan McGlothlin.

Burial

First Lieutenant Donald Ryan McGlothlin is buried at Russell Memorial Cemetery in Lebanon, Russell County, VA.

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/195945264/donald-ryan-mcglothlin