1st Lt. Ryan Rawl LEXINGTON - 1st Lt. Ryan Rawl, age 30, was killed in active military duty on Wednesday, June 20th, 2012, while serving in the South Carolina Army National Guard in Afghanistan. He was a first lieutenant in the 133rd MP Co. out of Timmonsville SC. Rawl is survived by wife, Katherine (Belknap) Rawl; daughter, Callie (age 4); son, Caleb (age 2); parents, Stanley and Diane Rawl; brother, Stan Rawl (Lyndsey); nephew, Hunter (age 4); niece, Hadley (age 1); and grandmothers, Eleanor Rawl and Bobbie Davis. He was predeceased by grandfathers, Andrew Lee Rawl and Bobby Leo Davis; and an aunt, Sherry Rawl. He graduated from Lexington High School in 2000. While there, Rawl was a member of the wrestling and football teams. He was also chosen to be sent as a representative to SC Boy's State. Upon graduation, he entered The Citadel as part of F-Troop Company. While attending The Citadel, he received the Mark Clark Award for his outstanding service on the Honor Court. He also enjoyed leading underclassmen in bible study. His major was Criminal Justice. After graduation from The Citadel, Rawl began work with the Richland County Sheriff Department as a deputy. During his time there he was awarded deputy of the quarter and deputy of the year for his region. His last assignment with the department was as a school resource officer at Crayton Middle School. In 2006, Ryan joined the SC National Guard. He was a member of Palmetto Military Academy class #59. The first unit he was assigned to was the 132nd MP Co. out of West Columbia. For a short time he served out of the 131st MP Co. out of Beaufort. As a platoon leader, he loved being a leader and was proud of his troops and the work they were doing. He deployed with the 133rd MP Co. out of Timmonsville. His active duty deployment began September 11th, 2011. He received numerous decorations and honors to include the Bronze Star, The Purple Heart, The Combat Action Badge, The SC Medal of Valor and The SC Meritorious Service Medal. The family would like to thank the community for the huge outpouring of love and support and ask that you continue to pray for families of the others that were killed, those that were injured and his unit remaining in Afghanistan. Memorials can be made to the Wounded Warrior Project in Ryan's name. The visitation will be held at Barr-Price Funeral Home in Lexington, SC on Friday, June 29th from 5 7 pm. The address is 609 Northwood Road, Lexington, SC 29072. The funeral service will be held at Saxe Gotha Presbyterian Church in Lexington on Saturday, June 30th at 10 am. The address is 5503 Sunset Boulevard, Lexington, SC 29072. The burial will follow at Mount Herman Baptist Church in Pelion, SC. The address is 1845 Cedar Creek Rd, Pelion, SC 29123. Online register at barr-price.com 803-356-4411

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http://thefallen.militarytimes.com/army-1st-lt-ryan-d-rawl/6568235

Army 1st Lt. Ryan D. Rawl

Died June 20, 2012 Serving During Operation Enduring Freedom

30, of Lexington, S.C.; assigned to 133rd Military Police Company, 51st Military Police Battalion, Florence, S.C.; died June 20 in Khost, Afghanistan, of wounds caused by small-arms fire and an improvised explosive device. Also killed were Army Sgt. John D. Meador II and Army Sgt. 1st Class Matthew B. Thomas.

S.C. Guard names soldiers killed in bomb attack

By Susanne M. Schafer

The Associated Press

COLUMBIA, S.C. — Three South Carolina Army National Guard soldiers were killed and five wounded in an attack by a suicide bomber in Afghanistan on June 20, officials say.

Maj. Gen. Robert Livingston identified the three killed as 1st Lt. Ryan Rawl of Lexington, 30; Sgt. 1st Class Matthew Thomas of Easley, 30; and Spc. John Meador of Columbia, 36.

Livingston, the state’s adjutant general, would not identify the five wounded.

The guardsmen were serving with the 133rd Military Police Company, based in Timmonsville. The unit was activated last year and due to return home in August.

“These men died serving their country and I want to express my deepest sympathy and condolences to their families, who are the unsung heroes of our war effort,” Livingston said in a statement. “These deaths are grim reminders that our military, to include our South Carolina National Guard, is still in active defense of our country. We are privileged to have such heroes in our midst.”

Livingston says the suicide bomber attacked the soldiers in the city of Khost, about 90 miles southeast of Kabul. The attack claimed 21 lives in all. The assailant detonated his explosives in the packed marketplace as he approached Afghan and U.S. soldiers at the traffic control point, said Baryalai Wakman, a spokesman for the Khost provincial government.

Livingston said the deaths were the first connected to a South Carolina Guard unit in Afghanistan since October 2010, when Staff Sgt. Willie Harley of Aiken and Sgt. Luther Rabon Jr. of Lexington died in Paktika province when their vehicle struck a roadside bomb.

Rawl had served with the Richland County Sheriff’s Department since 2005, according to Sheriff Leon Lott.

“Rawl was willing to stand up to protect and serve; it was with that same pride he did so in his military uniform. He was an example to men and women who wear the uniform everywhere,” Lott said in a statement.

Rawl graduated from The Citadel and worked as a patrolman and later as a resource officer at Crayton Middle School in Columbia.

Livingston said the mission of the South Carolina unit was to train members of the Afghan police.

The unit deployed 170 soldiers to Afghanistan in November 2011.

Livingston said 16 members of the South Carolina National Guard have died in combat operations in Afghanistan and Iraq since 2003.