MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. -- Marines are so tough, they can fall two stories, get banged up on the way down and keep on fighting.
No, really, they can.
Meet Lance Cpl. Richard E. Ryba.
The 24-year-old radio operator from Shepperd, Texas, took a tumble off a two-story building while clearing houses with his platoon commander in Fallujah during Operation Al Fajr.
"Not many guys fall from a roof, hit a balcony, land flat on the deck, and then shiver it all off," said Capt. Brian R. Chontosh, Ryba's company commander during Operation Al Fajr and an instructor at The Basic School in Quantico, Va.
Ryba recently returned from a seven-month deployment with Company I, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Ryba served as the communication link between his platoon commander, 2nd Lt. Clint W. Alanese, and Chontosh.
Ryba was never a big fan of heights to begin with. However, his years as an infantryman have helped him overcome his phobias.
"Being in the grunts, you kind of have to deal with a lot of things you don't want to, including heights," he said.
Coalition forces kicked off Operation Al Fajr in November 2004 at the request of the interim Iraqi government to eliminate insurgent sanctuaries in Fallujah and allow the government to restore order. The Marines of 3rd Bn., 5th Marines were tasked with securing the northwest corner of the insurgent stronghold.
Although Ryba deployed with his unit during the Baghdad invasion in March 2003, the battle for Fallujah was the first time he encountered enemy fighters face to face.
"I was scared. I didn't know what to expect," he admitted.
After leaping out of the rear hatches of their amphibious assault vehicles, they began clearing the city of insurgents on the evening of Nov. 8, 2004.
Accompanying his commander through the first city block, Ryba encountered many obstacles - including booby traps, blocked entries and buildings laced with improvised explosive devices, besides insurgents possibly lurking behind doors and buildings.
Ryba and Alanese exchanged rifles as they scaled fences, maneuvered around walls and climbed stairs while clearing houses. During the first hours of fighting, Ryba handed his weapon to Alanese, grabbed a drainpipe to keep his balance and walked a ledge two stories above the ground.
As he pivoted to negotiate a corner, the drainpipe snapped, causing Ryba and his 50-plus pounds of gear to tumble into a courtyard below.
"At first I really couldn't feel anything," he said. "When I came to, I was in the middle of a courtyard with nothing but a bayonet."
His commander immediately signaled the platoon's corpsman for medical assistance.
"The whole time this is going on, we are shooting (insurgents)," Chontosh said.
The corpsman quickly assessed Ryba's sprained forearm, applied bandage wraps and gave him painkillers. The company's operational pause after the first night of fighting allowed Ryba to get a few hours of rest and recovery.
"This guy (Ryba) refuses to be (evacuated) for fear he won't return to his platoon, and just tapes his wrist and ribs," Chontosh said.
Within 12 hours, Ryba was back in action.
"The next day, I was getting into firefights with the rest of the platoon," he said.
He continued to push through Fallujah with the rest of 2nd Platoon until coalition authorities declared the city secure.
After the company returned to its base at Camp Baharia, Iraq, Ryba bore the brunt of many jokes during the remainder of the deployment.
"When Capt. Chontosh would brief the platoon commanders for missions, he would tell them to pay attention to cover and concealment, and not to let any more dudes fall off of any roofs," he said.
"I always tease him that (he brushed off the injuries) because he carried a little more cushion than most," Chontosh said.
Ryba returned to the U.S. in early April and is enjoying 30 days of leave visiting friends and family in Texas.
Upon his return, it's back to business with 3rd Bn., 5th Marines.
"Three-five is my life. They are my family," he said.
Email Sgt. Agostini at luis.agostini@usmc.mil.