MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. -- Marines and sailors of 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, gathered at Camp Pendleton’s Camp Horno Chapel to celebrate the life of 2nd Lt. Ryan M. Jackman on April 4. Jackman, an infantry officer with Company I, was killed in a vehicle accident just months before his unit was scheduled to deploy with the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit.
“He was one of the best platoon commanders I’ve ever had,” said Sgt. Jody A. Perritte, 27, who is a squad leader from Dallas. “He was one of a kind, that’s for sure.”
During the ceremony, Marines had a chance to speak about their beloved leader. Jackman was technically and tactically proficient and very knowledgeable, Perritte said. “His tactical mindset was one of the best I’ve ever seen from other officers I’ve encountered.”
He proved his worth when he and his unit trained at the Mountain Warfare Training Center in Bridgeport, his Marines said. There, he trudged up snowy slopes, leading his platoon of Marines from the front.
“If your leaders don’t lead from the front, your Marines aren’t going to follow,” Perritte said. “He was a good leader in that aspect.”
Jackman’s fellow officers felt the same way.
“He had a no quit, determined personality,” said 2nd Lt. Aaron M. Bell, a platoon commander for 3/1. “Back in school he was not going to let a problem stop him from doing what he wanted to do, and at that time it was finish school.”
Jackman was also known for being a dependable man.
“A couple of days after he passed a couple of us got together to eat pizza and talk about Lt. Jackman,” Bell said. “It became abundantly clear that he was a solid, dependable man that you could rely on.”
When Bell, Jackman and other officers were nearing the end of school they were scrambling for a place to live at their next duty station. Jackman’s peers had nothing to worry about.
“He had already arranged an apartment in California,” Bell said. “He told all of us that if we needed food or a place to stay he would take care of it.”
Bell said he will never forget about one of the best friends he’s ever had.
“I’m saddened by the loss of my friend and brother-in-arms, but I am consoled and inspired by the life he led … ‘Semper Fidelis,’ Lt. Jackman,” Bell said.
A trumpet player played ‘Taps’ to finish the ceremony. Even he couldn’t help, but feel the strong presence of Jackman’s spirit.
“It’s always a weird feeling because I always think what if it was me in the other position and someone was playing taps for me,” said Cpl. Kevin D. Willis, 21, a trumpet player with the 1st Marine Division Band from Katy, Texas. “It’s moving.”
“He was always comitted to his Marines,” said Capt. Patrick B. Byrne, Company I commanding officer. “A few days before he passed he asked me if we could talk about admin issues. I initially thought, ‘no, I don’t (have time), but I thought if it was important enough for him to bring up then it must be important … He wanted to get his Marines some time off so they could spend more time with their families.”
Lt. Jackman’s Marines said his selflessness and dedication to duty will never be forgotten.
“Lt. Jackman left shoes that could never be filled,” said Lance Cpl. Joseph B. Gastring, 20, an automatic rifleman with Company I, who is from Odesa, Texas. “He will forever be in all of our hearts and minds.”