Ryan A. Conklin
Encyclopedia
Ryan Allen Conklin is a former Sergeant
in the United States Army
, known as a cast member on the MTV
reality television series, The Real World: Brooklyn
, which aired in 2008, and The Real World Presents: Return to Duty, a 2009 documentary that chronicled his second tour of duty serving as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom
. After being honorably discharged in 2010, Conklin went on to write a memoir chronicling his experiences in Iraq.
to Dave and Pat Conklin. He has a brother named Aaron, and a sister named Carrie. When he was 11, he and his family moved to Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
. Conklin was raised in a close family of five. Growing in Gettysburg, the family harbored a strong sense of history, and an affinity for the military, with Conklin, his brother Ryan, their father, Dave, and two cousins participating in Civil War reenactments
.
In addition to his brother, Aaron, who is a military police officer in the Army Reserves, Conklin also has two cousins in the Army as well.
at age 17, having been inspired to do so by the September 11 attacks.
He spent a year in Iraq
, guarded Saddam Hussein
at his trial
, and suffered a number of near-death experiences. During his time on The Real World, it was also revealed that he suffers from knee problems and posttraumatic stress as a result of his tour of duty. He was honorably discharged in 2006.
of the MTV
reality series, The Real World
in 2008. On being selected, Conklin said that it almost started as a joke. MTV was casting at a bar he was visiting, and he decided to apply. He says that he was stunned to learn he made the final cut. His cast biography is as follows:
During his time on The Real World, Conklin related his experiences in the Iraq War, which he expressed through his guitar playing, and in a 300-page single-space typed journal. His experiences in Iraq made him highly critical of the war's execution, and spurred his hopes for a Barack Obama
victory in the 2008 Presidential Election, which he hoped would preclude being recalled to Iraq.
As an aspiring filmmaker, and an interest in studying at the University of Pittsburgh
.
, North Carolina
before leaving, Conklin surprised his Real World castmates by appearing on the reunion show. He returned to Iraq later that month, serving in the southern Saydiyah section of Baghdad as an infantryman, and was eventually promoted to the rank of Sergeant.
Before deploying, MTV and the producers of the Real World pitched him the idea for a documentary following his returning to Iraq as well as his family members' reactions. Though initially reluctant, Conklin agreed. The documentary, fully titled The Real World Presents: Return to Duty, aired on November 11, 2009. Conklin says that he was "very pleased with how it all came together".
In January 2010 Conklin was again honorably discharged from the Army.
Conklin's memoir about his experience during his first tour in Iraq, An Angel From Hell, was published In April 2010.
Sergeant
Sergeant is a rank used in some form by most militaries, police forces, and other uniformed organizations around the world. Its origins are the Latin serviens, "one who serves", through the French term Sergent....
in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
, known as a cast member on the MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
reality television series, The Real World: Brooklyn
The Real World: Brooklyn
The Real World: Brooklyn is the twenty-first season of MTV's reality television series The Real World, which focuses on a group of diverse strangers living together for several months in a different city each season, as cameras document their lives and interpersonal relationships...
, which aired in 2008, and The Real World Presents: Return to Duty, a 2009 documentary that chronicled his second tour of duty serving as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom
2003 invasion of Iraq
The 2003 invasion of Iraq , was the start of the conflict known as the Iraq War, or Operation Iraqi Freedom, in which a combined force of troops from the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and Poland invaded Iraq and toppled the regime of Saddam Hussein in 21 days of major combat operations...
. After being honorably discharged in 2010, Conklin went on to write a memoir chronicling his experiences in Iraq.
Early life
Conklin was born on April 1, 1985 in Marshall, MichiganMarshall, Michigan
Marshall is a city located in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is part of the Battle Creek, Michigan Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 7,459. It is the county seat of Calhoun County...
to Dave and Pat Conklin. He has a brother named Aaron, and a sister named Carrie. When he was 11, he and his family moved to Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
Gettysburg is a borough that is the county seat, part of the Gettysburg Battlefield, and the eponym for the 1863 Battle of Gettysburg. The town hosts visitors to the Gettysburg National Military Park and has 3 institutions of higher learning: Lutheran Theological Seminary, Gettysburg College, and...
. Conklin was raised in a close family of five. Growing in Gettysburg, the family harbored a strong sense of history, and an affinity for the military, with Conklin, his brother Ryan, their father, Dave, and two cousins participating in Civil War reenactments
American Civil War reenactment
American Civil War reenactment is an effort to recreate the appearance of a particular battle or other event associated with the American Civil War by hobbyists known as Civil War reenactors or Civil War recreationists...
.
In addition to his brother, Aaron, who is a military police officer in the Army Reserves, Conklin also has two cousins in the Army as well.
First tour of duty
Conklin enlisted in the United States ArmyUnited States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
at age 17, having been inspired to do so by the September 11 attacks.
He spent a year in Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
, guarded Saddam Hussein
Saddam Hussein
Saddam Hussein Abd al-Majid al-Tikriti was the fifth President of Iraq, serving in this capacity from 16 July 1979 until 9 April 2003...
at his trial
Trial of Saddam Hussein
thumb|300 px| Saddam Hussein sits before an Iraqi judge at a courthouse in Baghdad, 1 July 2004.The Trial of Saddam Hussein was the trial of the deposed President of Iraq Saddam Hussein by the Iraqi Interim Government for crimes against humanity during his time in office.The Coalition Provisional...
, and suffered a number of near-death experiences. During his time on The Real World, it was also revealed that he suffers from knee problems and posttraumatic stress as a result of his tour of duty. He was honorably discharged in 2006.
The Real World: Brooklyn
In 2008, after returning from his first tour in Iraq, Conklin was cast on the 21st seasonThe Real World: Brooklyn
The Real World: Brooklyn is the twenty-first season of MTV's reality television series The Real World, which focuses on a group of diverse strangers living together for several months in a different city each season, as cameras document their lives and interpersonal relationships...
of the MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
reality series, The Real World
The Real World
The Real World is a reality television program on MTV originally produced by Mary-Ellis Bunim and Jonathan Murray. First broadcast in 1992, the show, which was inspired by the 1973 PBS documentary series An American Family, is the longest-running program in MTV history and one of the...
in 2008. On being selected, Conklin said that it almost started as a joke. MTV was casting at a bar he was visiting, and he decided to apply. He says that he was stunned to learn he made the final cut. His cast biography is as follows:
During his time on The Real World, Conklin related his experiences in the Iraq War, which he expressed through his guitar playing, and in a 300-page single-space typed journal. His experiences in Iraq made him highly critical of the war's execution, and spurred his hopes for a Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
victory in the 2008 Presidential Election, which he hoped would preclude being recalled to Iraq.
As an aspiring filmmaker, and an interest in studying at the University of Pittsburgh
University of Pittsburgh
The University of Pittsburgh, commonly referred to as Pitt, is a state-related research university located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded as Pittsburgh Academy in 1787 on what was then the American frontier, Pitt is one of the oldest continuously chartered institutions of...
.
Second tour of duty
In November 2008, while filming The Real World, Conklin found out, much to his shock, that he was being called back to active duty. On April 1, 2009, the day he was supposed to report to Fort BraggFort Bragg (North Carolina)
Fort Bragg is a major United States Army installation, in Cumberland and Hoke counties, North Carolina, U.S., mostly in Fayetteville but also partly in the town of Spring Lake. It was also a census-designated place in the 2010 census and had a population of 39,457. The fort is named for Confederate...
, North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
before leaving, Conklin surprised his Real World castmates by appearing on the reunion show. He returned to Iraq later that month, serving in the southern Saydiyah section of Baghdad as an infantryman, and was eventually promoted to the rank of Sergeant.
Before deploying, MTV and the producers of the Real World pitched him the idea for a documentary following his returning to Iraq as well as his family members' reactions. Though initially reluctant, Conklin agreed. The documentary, fully titled The Real World Presents: Return to Duty, aired on November 11, 2009. Conklin says that he was "very pleased with how it all came together".
In January 2010 Conklin was again honorably discharged from the Army.
Later work
Conklin currently travels the country speaking to colleges and universities with Hope's Voice organization, speaking about his time in Iraq.Conklin's memoir about his experience during his first tour in Iraq, An Angel From Hell, was published In April 2010.