Staff Sgt. Ryan Austin remembered as ‘quiet professional’

Hundreds of family members, friends and members of the community gathered at Corbin Funeral Home Tuesday to bid farewell to Air Force Staff Sgt. Ryan Austin.

The 2006 graduate of South Laurel High School was killed Aug. 6 while working to remove a radio tower in England.

Austin, who had enlisted in the Air Force in 2010, was stationed in Germany where he served as a cable and antenna maintenance technician.

Air Force Major Rico Cody, Austin’s commanding officer, said Austin and his fellow techs were commonly referred to as, “cable dogs,” and that Austin was one of the best.

Austin had recently been named as the 12^th Air Force’s cable tech of the year and, because of his hard work, been promoted through the ranks to staff sergeant in just two years and eight months.

“Earning a promotion to staff sergeant is something that takes the typical airman about six-and-a-half years,” Cody noted.

Cody, who had taken command just six weeks ago, said he had an informal meeting with Austin’s fellow cable dogs to talk about him and what kind of person he was.

“Austin was known as a quiet professional,” Cody said, explaining how the airmen recalled in extensive conversations, Austin would say very little but convey so much by his many facial expressions.

It brought comparisons to World Wrestling Entertainment superstar, Dewayne “The Rock” Johnson.

“He loved his unit and coworkers,” Cody said of Austin, noting it was traditional for at promotion ceremonies for the individual to ask to people who have been instrumental in obtaining the promotion to join the airman.

“When Ryan was promoted to staff sergeant, he asked his wife, Jessica, to join him and all of his fellow cable dogs,” Cody explained.

Cody said Austin was also known as a determined individual in anything he tried, big or small.

One of the biggest was losing 60 pounds in order to be ready for the Air Force. That was only the beginning as Austin got on a health kick and recently ran 22 miles as part of the unit’s Viking Challenge charity event in Ramstein, Germany.

Cody completed one last piece of business, formally reading the orders conveying the Air Force Commendation Medal upon Austin.

The orders explained that Austin earned the medal because of his, professionalism, trouble shooting skills and safe execution of a recent overhaul of 110 ultra high frequency and very high frequency aircraft control antennas.

“He epitomizes our Air Force core values of integrity first, service before self and excellence in all that we do,” Cody said. “He certainly did my squadron proudly.”

Daniel Carmack, youth pastor at West Corbin Baptist Church, fondly recalled Austin’s time in the youth group, explaining that Austin demonstrated many of the traits that made him successful in the Air Force throughout his life.

“All of us know some people who have changed over the course of their lives,” Carmack said. “Some get better. Some even get worse. One of the best things that can be said about any of us is that we were consistent. Ryan was consistent. He was a good man. He was a good man because he had been raised to be a good boy.”

Carmack noted that while Austin’s life was short, ending in just 25 years, it was packed full of life. In that time, he travelled throughout the world, married the girl of his dreams and been a part of the greatest fighting force on the planet, served countless people, was soon to be a father and so much more.”

“Ryan had quality of life,” Carmack said. “He lived life to the fullest. Ryan made the most of each day. Ryan made the most of his 25 years.”

Following the funeral, Austin was buried in Fields Cemetery in Harlan County.

Austin is survived by his wife, Jessica, who is expecting the couple’s first child in September.