Honoree: Ryan A. Balmer

Hometown: Mishawaka, IN
Branch of Service: Air Force
Rank: Tech Sergeant
Player: Nate Stevens
Tech Sergeant Ryan Balmer, 33, an airman from Mishawaka, Indiana stationed at Hill AFB in Utah was a special agent with the Air Force’s Office of Special Investigations. It was his duty to detect and prevent terrorist activities. He died June 5, 2007, in Kirkuk, Iraq of wounds sustained when his vehicle was struck by an improvised explosive device. This was his first deployment to Iraq.
Following graduation from Mishawaka High School, TSgt Balmer joined the US Air Force in 1993. He served in the Security Police Unit for 8 years and in Special Investigations for two years.
TSgt Balmer voluntarily deployed to Iraq in December, 2006, telling his wife “If I don’t go, somebody else is going to have to.”
“It was Air Force Tech. Sgt. Ryan A. Balmer’s smile that helped his fellow airmen when they were in harm’s way,” said Brigadier General Dana A. Simmons. “No matter how bad it got, no matter what they faced, they could always look to Ryan and see that goofy smile.”
TSgt Balmer is survived by his wife, Danielle and three children, Joshua, Anthony and Gaby.