In the middle of September, 2009, Sgt. Ryan A. Conklin left Iraq and returned to the United States for a two week R&R "vacation". As a story, it was second only to Ryan's April departure as the biggest Ryan event of 2009. The facts of the trip are spotty, but based on information from Ryan's MySpace, his and others Twitter accounts, and other sources, here is what I have pieced together. Ryan arrived in New York City on the 9th or 10th. He said it was a six day journey, traveling through Kuwait, Germany, and Atlanta. So he would have left Baghdad on the 3rd or 4th.
Ryan had decided that he would surprise his family and friends with his visit and so he had not told any of them ahead of time that he was coming. During his days of travel, he continued to use Twitter to keep them and everyone else from figuring out what was happening.
His purpose for going to NYC was to see Baya Voce. He got to her door but found that he was the one surprised when she didn't answer. Without a cell phone, Ryan went looking for a pay phone, dressed in his ACU and trudging along with his gear. He walked a few blocks, found a phone, and called the roommate. She said Baya was at home but hadn't heard him knocking. He returned to her door and pounded on it. She answered and Ryan got the reaction he wanted. She was stunned but ecstatic. Love and affection ensued.
Ryan spent a few days in the city with Baya, busily doing as much as he could fit it. (One of the first things he did was go shopping for clothes. He had no civilian clothes with him.) On the 10th, he toured the John Lennon exhibit during the day and that night went with Baya to the Signature Hits magazine release party. On the 11th, he went to a 9/11 commemoration and then to a charity event.
On the 11th or 12th, Ryan, and presumably Baya, took a train to Pennsylvania to surprise his family. Again he was successful in his endeavor. Family love and affection ensured, but within 30 minutes Ryan was playing Beatles Rock Band at the family home.
On the 12th, Ryan and Baya went to the Gettysburg Wine & Music Festival, where he consumed a lot of wine and kettle corn, one of Ryan's favorite snacks. It put him the mood after that to sit with his family and watch football on television.
On the 13th, he went hiking in the hills of the area with Baya. On the 14th, they again went to the hills, and they had a picnic. That night, they went to the York Fair, in York Pennsylvania. Baya was amused by the standard rural qualities of the fair.
On the 15th, Ryan and Baya went back to New York, where Baya did her usual Tuesday night DJ gig at Angels & Kings.
On the 16th, Baya had trapeze class and took Ryan with her. He took a go at it and had fun with it. That night he hung out with Scott Herman and Baya as they all watched the movie Hook.
On the 17th, Ryan spent time during the day recording promotional videos with and for the IAVA. That evening he went out to a club where he got to meet Sean Lennon, son of John Lennon and Yoko Ono. John Lennon is Ryan's music idol, so understandably Ryan was busting from the experience.
On the evening of the 18th, Scott Herman expected to stay outside for the night, while Ryan and Baya were being happy. This may have been one of the times that prompted Ryan to write, "As for Baya and I, what’s a better word to say than 'finally!'"
On the 19th, Ryan presumably went with Baya to The Bitter End bar to listen to live music. On the 20th Ryan and Baya spent time watching football with Paul Rieckhoff of the IAVA.
The events of the next few days are unknown, but on the 22nd it would have been another Angels & Kings night. We know that following that shift, Baya, Scott, and Ryan were going to watch Teenage Ninja Mutant Turtles III, but Ryan went to bed instead.
On the 23rd, Scott and Ryan made the only two known videos of Ryan during his trip. That night, Ryan reported that his trip had ended and that he was beginning his journey back to Iraq.
It was over too soon, for him and those that care about him. Hopefully the time left on Ryan's tour will speed by as quickly as did his R&R.
