Late at night, after all the fighting had died down, then-First
Lt. Richard Ruiz would get on his shortwave radio and he would talk
one on one with the Taliban.
Late at night, after all the fighting had died down, then-First Lt. Richard Ruiz would get on his shortwave radio and he would talk one on one with the Taliban.
“What would it take for us to have peace with you?” he asked.
“You have to be Muslim. You’re an infidel,” the voice replied.
“But we’re not trying to convert you,” Ruiz said.
“It doesn’t matter. You have to become Muslim.”
“It was incredible to me. On the one hand, the Afghan Muslims I worked with were my brothers, but on the other hand, the extremist Muslims had this gang mentality, and they used religion to justify killing other Muslims who cooperated with U.S. troops – and anyone else they felt it necessary to kill,” Ruiz said, looking back on his tour in Afghanistan.
Ruiz served as an Embedded Advisor to the Reconnaissance Company, 4th Kandak, 3rd Brigade, 201st Corps, with the Afghanistan National Army from 2007 to 2008. He had a unique mission: to live as one of only three U.S. troops embedded within a unit of 70 Afghan troops, whom he would mentor and advise.
“The war being fought against the Taliban is for the hearts and minds of the Afghan people,” Ruiz said. “The battlefield has become one in which words and deeds matter more than bombs and bullets.”
Ruiz, trained as an anthropologist, made the most of his peacekeeping mission by leaving his own preconceptions behind and totally submerging himself in Afghan culture, language, beliefs and religion.
“Perception is everything,” Ruiz said. “It doesn’t matter how much firepower we have. This is a psychological war. Where I contributed most was gaining the respect of the Afghans I fought alongside. If you have an outstanding Marine on the one hand who is physically fit in every way, but on the other hand, you show me a Marine who is not as physically fit but who has social skills and the ability to reach out to other people, then he’s the Marine we need most in Afghanistan.”
Born and raised in Gilroy, Ruiz was a teenage father who ended up dropping out of Gilroy High School to finish his education at Mount Madonna Continuation High School. But believing that it’s how you react to situations that matters most, Ruiz was determined. He hopes his story will inspire other teens to realize that if they make mistakes, it’s not the end.
“No matter what challenges life throws at you, never give up,” Ruiz said. “If you stay positive and focused, everything will work out.”
Ruiz’ determination took him from teenage dad to an officer in the Marines. He is a college graduate and the happily married father of four boys (ages 14, 12, 3 and 1). His in-laws – Don and Janet Londgren – also live in Gilroy.
Now Ruiz’ determination has paid off once again. He has been recognized by the President of the United States and the U.S. Marine Corps for bravery in combat in Afghanistan. He has been awarded the bronze star with valor – the fourth most prestigious medal in the U.S. military.
“You could tell the troops really care about him,” Don Londgren said after witnessing the medal ceremony in San Diego. Ruiz asked that it be performed in the exact spot where he had first stepped off the bus after joining the Marines. He also postponed the ceremony so that all of his family could be there with him.
But it’s not receiving the bronze star that Ruiz – now a Captain – wants to discuss with anyone. He is too humble to brag about how he fought his way through intense automatic weapon and rocket-propelled grenade fire and provided critical combat leadership to U.S. and Afghan troops.
The men in his unit will tell you about the time he instantly took charge during a firefight and secured the area in order to rescue an unconscious Afghan soldier who had suffered head trauma and a gunshot wound. Ruiz will tell you about the beauty of Afghanistan.
“It’s a beautiful land with very diverse people,” he said. “A crossroads where east and west meet, inhabited by the descendants of Genghis Khan and Alexander the Great. Dark-haired people with blue eyes, beautiful streams flowing through the mountains, ice and snow in winter. It’s a majestic land. This would be a lovely place to go on vacation if there could be peace. The people are so down to earth, warm and welcoming.
Captain Ruiz established strong relationships with the Afghan people and still communicates with them. He can only hope that their experience as he served with them as an American who is respectful, courteous, empathetic, and open-minded will remain in their hearts and minds. It’s more powerful than any rocket-propelled grenade launcher, that’s for sure.
