Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
One-Legged Army Soldier Now Ball Boy At U.S. Open
By
John Del Signore
Published Aug 30, 2012
Modified Aug 30, 2012
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
John Del Signore
Published Aug 30, 2012
Modified Aug 30, 2012
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
After losing a leg from a landmine in Afghanistan, Army Specialist Ryan McIntosh was outfitted with a carbon-fiber prosthetic right leg. There's a sticker attached that reads "Freedom is not free, but it's worth fighting for," and that message is now getting wide exposure through the U.S. Open, which took McIntosh on as a ball boy this summer.
"I'm just a ballperson when I'm here," McIntosh, who gets paid $7.75 an hour, tells the AP. "It's the same when I'm in the Army. I'm just a specialist. I'm not anything special. I don't consider myself a wounded warrior. When I have my uniform on, you cannot tell. And that's kind of my biggest goal here, too." At tryouts for the job, McIntosh was asked if he could throw a tennis ball. "I said, 'I've thrown grenades, so I think I can handle a tennis ball.'"
McIntosh, a 23-year-old from San Antonio who has a young son, also works as the adaptive sports coordinator in the Army, helping wounded soldiers get back into sports while they heal. He competed against 600 other would-be ballpeople to get the U.S. Open assignment. The Daily News reports that he still has nightmares of bombs and explosions, and on Monday night he was working a match when fireworks from the opening ceremony went off. "Blasts still freak me out," McIntosh told the News. "Literally it’s like my stomach going into my throat. It is gut-wrenching."
Tagged
army
ryan mcintosh
tennis
us open
John Del Signore
Originally from the Albany area, John Del Signore has called NYC home since 1995. In addition to his thousands of meticulously-crafted bespoke blog posts for Gothamist, his writing has also been published in The Awl, Deadspin, The Nervous Breakdown, and performed at The Brick Theater in Brooklyn.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
NYC Council to consider earlier Legionella reporting after deadly outbreaks
A bill facing a hearing Monday would require cooling tower owners to notify city health officials when bacteria levels reach a much lower threshold.
By
Catalina Gonella
Published Oct 18, 2026 at 7:36 p.m. ET
Staten Island fire injures 2, but spares historic 'Godfather' church
Dozens of firefighters responded to the blaze, which started in a vacant warehouse. It was contained within three hours.
By
Giulia Heyward
News
Staten Island fire injures 2, but spares historic 'Godfather' church
Dozens of firefighters responded to the blaze, which started in a vacant warehouse. It was contained within three hours.
By
Giulia Heyward
Bail reform remains major issue in NY governor's race, 7 years after it became law
By
Gino Fanelli
NYPD identifies Bronx man, 26, killed in Midtown subway shooting
By
Ryan Kost
,
Elizabeth Kim
and
Phil Corso
Have you seen this Yorkie? NYPD looking for adorable pup dognapped from her Queens home
By
Ryan Kost
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .